Antisemitic Attacks

Luke Taylor Excerpts

Monday 20th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Jarvis]

We have invested a record amount of money in ensuring that places of worship right around the country have the support, security and defences that they require. That is a priority for the Government. We will always want to ensure that people can practise their faith and go about their business unimpeded by the threats that we have seen. I give him that commitment. I hope that the fact that we have brought forward record levels of resource for this demonstrates the seriousness with which we take it.

[Luke Taylor (Sutton and Cheam) (LD)]

I join the Minister in condemning the attacks in Finchley, Hendon and Harrow. There have been four attacks on Jewish sites in London in a week. It is heartbreaking that the Jewish community once again faces horrific antisemitic abuse, just under a month after the events at the Hatzola ambulance station. Tragically for our Jewish friends and neighbours, these attacks are no longer a surprise.

Hate crime in London is rising, and it demands a response. The Metropolitan police must be given the resources that they need to monitor vulnerable neighbourhoods and protect communities. I welcome the measures that the Minister outlined in his statement, but what assurance can he give Londoners that police officer numbers will be increased—and will not continue to decrease—so that we can stamp out hate crime in our capital?

[Dan Jarvis]

The Minister for Policing and Crime, the Home Secretary and I—and all our ministerial colleagues —will do everything we need to do to ensure that the Metropolitan police and all police forces around the country have the resources they need to do this difficult job. Yes, there are moments of challenge, but we will ensure that our response is proportionate to the nature of the threat. Whatever it takes, we will provide it.