It is estimated that around two-thirds of British Jews live in
Greater London and the surrounding areas.
In the last two weeks of May 2021, reports of anti-Semitism
increased by 500 per cent across London.
The London Assembly has today
agreed to call on the Mayor and Met Police to commission and
publish a specific strategy for tackling anti-Semitism in London.
AM, who proposed the motion said:
“It's no surprise many Jewish Londoners feel let down by our
city's response to the recent horrific scenes of anti-Semitism on
our streets. Something has clearly gone wrong when mobs parading
on our streets, and even a convoy of vehicles driving through a
Jewish community, can freely broadcast their hateful, disgusting
and violent views.
“Worryingly, while anti-Semitism on London's streets went
unchecked, a police officer chose to agree publicly and shout the
protest's political message. The officer's misguided action not
only undermines the force's impartiality but the Jewish
community's faith in the police. This cannot happen again.
“Condemnation of anti-Semitism alone won't make London any
safer. We need strong action to root it out. In the future, there
must be a swifter police response with robust police action to
keep Jewish Londoners safe. We cannot allow a repeat of the
anti-Semitic demonstrations and displays we have seen recently in
London.
“I hope the Mayor and the Metropolitan Police listen and act
on the recommendations the London Assembly have made today."
AM, who proposed the amended motion said:
“In recent weeks, we have seen some abhorrent incidents of
anti-Semitic hate crime in our capital.
“City Hall has been working hard with the Met Police to
tackle hate crime wherever it rears its ugly head, but sadly,
Jewish Londoners still face abuse on an all too routine
basis.
“As Londoners, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with Jewish
communities in our capital and call out anti-Semitism where we
see it.
“A zero-tolerance approach is fundamental to stamping it out,
and this should apply to all situations, including protests and
demonstrations.”
The full text of the amended motion is:
“This Assembly places on record its disgust and condemnation at
the incidents of antisemitism seen across London in recent weeks.
Antisemitism has no place in our city, and we stand with all
Jewish Londoners at this extremely worrying time.
This Assembly acknowledges the Mayor’s work to make London safer
for all its citizens by tackling anti-Semitism and all hate
crime.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor and the Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS) to:
- Commission and publish a specific strategy for tackling
antisemitism in London;
- Conduct a review of the robustness of all MPS responses to
all reported incidents of antisemitism in 2021;
- Ensure the strongest possible action is taken by the MPS
against all examples of antisemitism displayed in London in
recent weeks, and make clear that such behaviour will not be
tolerated in the future;
- Ensure all police officers remain impartial and do not make
political gestures whilst on duty, committing to full and
thorough investigations of incidents where reports of such
behaviour emerge; and
- Ensure that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
(IHRA) definition of antisemitism, as adopted by the Mayor and
Assembly, is strongly enforced across London.
We recognise that ultimately the power to ban protests lies
solely with the Home Secretary, who should carefully scrutinise
future requests for demonstrations to ensure a zero-tolerance
approach against any antisemitic speech or imagery, and not
approve any future demonstration without sufficient guarantees
that such behaviour will not be permitted and will be swiftly
dealt with if it arises.”
Notes to editors:
- Watch the full webcast.
- The amended motion was agreed unanimously.
