Keir Starmer Confronts Police Over 'Unacceptable' Response to Antisemitic Hate Crime in Manchester
Starmer confronts police over antisemitism 'banter' response

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has launched a scathing attack on Greater Manchester Police after officers dismissed vicious antisemitic abuse against Jewish teenagers as mere "banter" in what's being described as a catastrophic failure to protect the community.

Police Response Branded 'Completely Unacceptable'

In a strongly-worded letter to Chief Constable Stephen Watson, Starmer expressed his profound concern over the incident that occurred in the Prestwich area last month. The Labour leader, who previously served as Director of Public Prosecutions, didn't mince words, stating the police response was "completely unacceptable" and demanding to know what actions would be taken.

Victims Subjected to Horrific Abuse

The disturbing episode saw a group of Jewish teenagers targeted with antisemitic slurs and references to the Holocaust while going about their daily lives. When the victims bravely reported the incident, responding officers astonishingly classified the hate-fuelled abuse as "banter" rather than recognising it as the serious hate crime it clearly was.

Mark Gardner, chief executive of the Community Security Trust, revealed the shocking details: "The police officers attended, spoke to the Jewish victims and the non-Jewish perpetrators, and then told the Jewish victims that the antisemitic abuse was merely 'banter' and nothing further would be done."

Community Leaders Sound Alarm

The Community Security Trust, which works tirelessly to protect British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, immediately raised the alarm about what they described as a "completely inappropriate and unacceptable" police response.

Greater Manchester Police has since acknowledged the failure, with a spokesperson confirming they're "reviewing the circumstances" surrounding the incident and the subsequent response. The force emphasised that hate crime is "completely unacceptable" and that they're committed to working with communities to address such issues.

Growing Concerns Over Antisemitism

This incident comes amid rising concerns about antisemitism across the UK. The Community Security Trust recorded an alarming 4,103 antisemitic incidents nationwide in 2023 - the highest total ever recorded and a shocking 147% increase from the previous year.

Starmer's intervention highlights the critical importance of proper hate crime recognition and response by police forces. As Gardner stressed, first responses to hate crime victims are crucial, and getting it wrong can have devastating consequences for community trust and future reporting.