Antisemitism in UK reaches new high, according to watchdog

The number of antisemitic hate incidents in the UK reached a new high in 2017, according to figures released by the Community Security Trust (CST), a group that monitors antisemitism and provides security to British Jews and institutions.

This is the second annual CST report in a row that has found record levels of antisemitism in the country; in 2016 the group recorded a record 1,309 antisemitic incidents nationwide and its half-year report released in July found a 30% increase in antisemitic acts during the first six months of 2016.

CST reported on 1,382 recorded antisemitic incidents in 2017, a 3% increase from 2016.

The previous record was the 1,182 incidents CST recorded in 2014. CST has recorded antisemitic incidents since 1984.

CST said the increase in antisemitism was down to a number of factors, including an increase in all forms of recorded hate crime and publicity regarding alleged antisemitism in the Labour Party. The encouraging of more reporting of antisemitic incidents from victims and witnesses in the Jewish community is likely also a factor.

“Hatred is rising and Jewish people are suffering as a result. This should concern everybody because it shows anger and division that threaten all of society," said CST Chief Executive David Delew. "We have the support of Government and Police, but prosecutions need to be more visible and more frequent; while too many others act in ways that encourage antisemites and isolate Jews.”

Previous spikes in antisemitism were identified to have been triggered by "trigger events" related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but the the same could not be said of 2016 or 2017, CST said.

CST recorded a 34% increase in violent antisemitic assaults, but the most common single type of incident involved verbal abuse randomly directed at visibly Jewish people in public.

Meanwhile, antisemitism on social media declined by 15% from the previous year, though the group noted that it only records incidents: that have been reported by either the victim or a witness; if the comment shows evidence of antisemitic content, motivation or targeting; and if the offender is based in the United Kingdom or has directly targeted a UK-based victim.

CST said the fall in recorded online antisemitism could be a positive consequence of social media companies’ efforts to tackle hate speech online, combined with Police arrests and prosecutions.

“Antisemitism is a despicable form of abuse that seeks to undermine our values of diversity and openness and which has absolutely no place in British society," said Home Secretary Amber Rudd MP. "I welcome this report’s findings that the rise in reported incidents partly reflects the improving response to these horrendous attacks and better information sharing between the CST and police forces around the UK."

"But even one incident is one too many, and any rise in incidents is clearly concerning, which is why this Government will continue its work protecting the Jewish community and other groups from antisemitism and hate crime," she added. "In addition to the £13.4m funding the Government provides to protect Jewish sites, this year we will be refreshing our 2016 Hate Crime Action Plan, which sets out our strategy for tackling this scourge.”