Anti-semitic abuse hit a record high last year – rising by a third from 2020, a charity has revealed.
CST, which records such incidents, saw a record of 2,255 for 2021. This was up 34% from the 1,684 recorded in the year before.
Peak numbers were reported in the summer at a time of heightened conflict between Israel and Palestine, with 661 in May alone – a record monthly total.
One of these cars was a caravan with Palestinian flags, which were driving around north London. It was allegedly driven by passengers who are accused of using offensive language or threatening Jewish people.
According to the CST, there were 155 incidents of abusers shouting from their cars in Manchester and London last year. More than half occurred between May and June. There were 502 instances of Nazi-themed violence in the United States.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the ‘shocking’ statistics were ‘a stark reminder that the racism of antisemitism has not been eradicated.’
Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured) said the ‘shocking’ statistics were ‘a stark reminder that the racism of antisemitism has not been eradicated’
She added: ’Our Jewish community has been subject to appalling hatred and it is through the strength and determination of the Community Security Trust that we continue in our work together to stop such terrible attacks.
’In addition to supporting the work of CST, I continue to support the police to ensure they have the resources to tackle these despicable incidents so that perpetrators can then be punished with the full force of the law.’
Nationally there were 502 instances that used Nazi or far right themes in the entire year. There was also 90 incidents where the Holocaust celebrations were celebrated.
Hate incidents at schools were reported at 182, up from 54 in 2019. 99 hate incidents involved students or staff from non-faith schools. This is an increase of 14 years ago.
The CST said: ’It is unusual for such a high proportion of school-related incidents to take place at non-faith schools and CST supported many schoolchildren and teachers who felt isolated and fearful about returning to their place of education and work.’
There were 128 cases where students were the victim or perpetrators. This is an increase from 44 instances in 2020.
CST chief executive, Mark Gardner, said: ’These record levels of anti-Jewish racism, reported by our Jewish community to CST and police, show how difficult last year was for Jews across Britain.
’These hatreds boil away, taking any excuse to publicly burst out against Jews. This is exactly what happened during and after the Israel-Gaza war of May 2021, from schools and universities, through to the carloads of people who repeatedly drove to Jewish areas and yelled vile abuse at anyone who looked Jewish.’
CST includes 176 instances of violent antisemitic acts, three of which are extreme as they involve GBH or a risk to life and 82 cases of damage or destruction of Jewish property.
There were 1,844 instances of abusive behavior, such as verbal abuse or through social media, racist graffiti and hate mail. Ten antisemitic emails or leaflets were mass-mailed.