Anti-Semitic hate crime prosecutions are to be fast-tracked to counter the “deeply troubling” surge in attacks on the Jewish community, the chief prosecutor has announced.
Scotland Yard also announced that it was setting up a team of 100 extra police officers to protect the Jewish community in the wake of last week’s Golders Green terror attack in which two Jewish men were stabbed.
Counter-terror police are also investigating a further suspected arson attack on Jewish sites, this time at a former synagogue in east London, on Tuesday morning.
Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, said police had not “seen evidence of linkage” in the attacks but suggested there was a “pattern of copycat anti-Semitism taking place”.
“As a result, people see this and they are sadly encouraged to go out and commit crimes themselves,” he said.
His new “fast-track” guidance to prosecutors allows them to charge a suspect before they are required to obtain any supporting evidence – provided the evidential threshold is met.
He hoped the move would “put a line in the sand” by enabling prosecutors to make decisions more quickly to put a stop to the “uptick” in anti-Semitic behaviour.
It means that prosecutors could make a charging decision based on a reliable victim’s account; and a description or photographs of injuries, or medical records, in assault cases.
Mr Parkinson said: “Its purpose is to ensure that charging decisions are made swiftly and efficiently, with prosecutors focusing on the core evidence required to determine whether the evidential test is met.
“Where that threshold for prosecution is satisfied, then a prosecution decision should not be delayed – any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently.”
Anti-Semitic hate crimes in London hit a two-year high of 140 last month, up from 98 in March and 67 in February, according to Metropolitan Police figures.
The borough of Barnet – which includes the districts of Golders Green, Hendon and Finchley, all of which have large Jewish populations – saw the highest number, accounting for 51 of the 140, or 36 per cent.
The guidance will cover all hate crimes but anti-Semitic incidents make up between 30 and 40 per cent of such cases.
The announcement of 100 extra officers for Scotland Yard’s new dedicated “community protection team” comes three days after Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, urged the Government to fund a permanent 300-strong team to protect Jewish communities.
Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, urged the Government to provide funding to protect Jewish communities – Carl Court/Getty
It is understood the Home Office has yet to commit the estimated £35m-a-year funding that the Met believes it needs to create a permanent police base to protect Jewish communities in north London.
The new team comprises neighbourhood bobbies on the beat, armed officers and counter-terrorism experts to provide a “more visible, intelligence-led and coordinated presence” to protect Jewish communities.
Sir Mark warned last week that without a permanent team, the Met was having to pull officers from crime-fighting in other parts of the city. The force has received an extra £18m to help cover the bill, estimated to be £10m last month alone.