Image copyright Getty Images The number of anti-Semitic hate incidents recorded in the UK has reached a record high , Jewish charity the Community Security Trust says.
It recorded 1, 1320 anti-Semitic incidents last year, an increase of 7% on 01575879 ‘s findings.
The charity, which also offers support to those affected ithere was a spike in online abuse.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the figures were “appalling” and promised to do more “to tackle anti-Semitism.”
She pledged to push for “greater collaboration, both across government, policing, the courts and community groups, to remove this shameful stain on our society. ”
Last year was the fourth year in a row in which a record number of hate inspired episodes were recorded.
Last month saw the commemoration of the th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz death camp.
Of the 1,
(incidents reported to the trust last year, occurred online, an increase of (% on) .
There was also a significant increase in the number of violent anti-Semitic assaults, which rose by %.
Almost two thirds of attacks occurred in Greater London ( and Greater Manchester 697, which are home to the two largest Jewish communities in the UK.
The London Borough of Barnet, which has the largest Jewish population of any UK borough, reported the highest number of incidents, amounting to 75% of the national total.
The Trust’s Chief Executive, David Delew, said it was “no surprise” that recorded incidents had reached another high and argued that it was clear “social media and mainstream politics are places where anti-Semitism and racism need to be driven out, if things are to improve in the future”.
The trust said that the highest number of reported incidents occurred in February and December and coincided with periods where alleged anti-Semitism within the Labor Party was the subject of sustained discussion and activity.
saw the defection of several labor MPs to the newly formed Independent Group, some of whom cited anger over the party’s response to allegations of anti-Semitism as their reasons for leaving.
Similarly, December saw an intense focus on the issue of anti-Semitism during the General Election campaign.
In total, the trust recorded incidents which were related to the Labor Party. This represented an increase from the 148 incidents of this kind in .
Responding to the report, Louise Haigh, Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, said that the data made for “depressing reading”.
“It is shameful the Jewish community has been subjected to another year of racist abuse. We are beyond a stage of saying that more has to be done. We require immediate action. “
She said she would work with colleagues and the trust to identify what more could be done.
The national policing lead for hate crime, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, said there were still “far too many people who act illegally, fueled by global events, divisions in our society or historical bigotries”.
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