Extra police enforcement arranged for upcoming Jewish community events in Thames Valley
Thames Valley Police has announced it will be increasing its support operations to protect the Jewish communities within the area during Jewish High Holy Days.
This morning, the police force announced there will be an increase in operations around synagogues and the surrounding areas.
Thames Valley Police revealed this will include high-visibility patrols, the use of armed officers, and specialist resources.
This action has been taken by the force in response to an increase in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023.
Assistant Chief Constable Christian Bunt, who is leading the operation, said: "We recognise our Jewish communities will be concerned for their safety ahead of the High Holy Days following recent attacks and the general rise in antisemitism.
"We have a dedicated operation to protect our Jewish communities, alongside the Community Security Trust, throughout the period so people can expect to see an increased police presence near synagogues and the local areas during this period.
"There will be armed and unarmed officers on patrol, support from specialist units, and engagement staff speaking with our communities, alongside our partners, as well as security measures people will not see.”
The first event where the force will be running an increased security operation is on Rosh Hashanah on Friday. The force is also deploying more resources to Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah events.
The operation is designed to protect Jewish communities, deter criminality and ensure a swift response to any incidents, Thames Valley Police said. It will be intelligence-led and focused on visible patrols, community engagement and protecting places of worship and community sites, the force added.
It was also revealed that funding for the additional security has come via the Home Office.