The Metropolitan Police has confirmed the launch of a new specialist unit intended to protect Jewish Londoners after a rise in reported antisemitic incidents in the capital. The force said the unit, known as the Community Protection Team, will be made up of more than 100 officers drawn from neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counter terrorism resources, bolstering policing in areas most affected by hateful conduct and criminal behaviour.

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said the move was driven by what officers were seeing on the ground, adding that it reflected the need for a tailored response. She said,

“We know that the majority of Jewish people in London lead lives just like everyone else, they work, they go to school, they take children to nursery, go shopping and socialise, but they should be able to do those everyday things without the fear of being targeted because of who they are.”

Authorities said the team will focus on prevention and reassurance, ensuring officers are more visible in communities and working with local partners to tackle hate crime effectively.

The new team forms part of a broader effort by the Met to tackle antisemitism and provide additional protection, coming after a number of arrests over the past weekend linked to alleged offences against Jewish residents and community spaces. Police said officers have been working around the clock with detectives from Specialist Crime to investigate reports, and that the increases in hate crime had caused understandable concern among Londoners.

Assistant Commissioner Rolfe stressed that the Met will continue to adapt its policing approach, stating,

“We are committed to working with communities, partners and key stakeholders to bring offenders to justice, to reassure those who have been affected by this unacceptable behaviour, and to prevent further offences from occurring.”

She added that the Community Protection Team would help sustain a longer term policing presence where it is needed most, backed by ongoing intelligence and operational planning.

The announcement of the dedicated unit was welcomed by community leaders, who said it signalled a stronger commitment to tackling hateful conduct and ensuring Jewish Londoners feel safe. One representative said the establishment of specially assigned officers showed that authorities were taking the issue seriously, and highlighted the importance of partnership between police and local communities in addressing hate crime and prejudice.