British police forces say they will begin taking stronger measures — including arrests — against protesters using language and imagery deemed threatening to the Jewish community,

citing recent violent attacks in the UK and overseas.

In a joint statement released Wednesday, London’s Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police said that slogans such as “Globalize the intifada,” commonly heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, will no longer be tolerated when used in ways that target Jewish people.

“We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalize the intifada,’ and those using it at future protests or in a targeted way should expect action,” the forces said, stressing that the context has shifted following recent attacks. “Violent acts have taken place — the context has changed. Words have meaning and consequence.”

Police leaders pointed to two incidents in particular: last week’s deadly assault at Bondi Beach, Australia, where 15 people were killed during an event marking Hanukkah, and the October terror attack on a Manchester synagogue that left two worshippers dead during Yom Kippur services.

Jewish organizations have repeatedly urged tougher policing of what they describe as violent rhetoric on Britain’s streets. The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism and supports Jewish security needs, says hate incidents have surged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Dave Rich, the CST’s policy director, this week questioned whether there was a link between protest language and the rise in physical attacks. “As soon as you ask the question, the answer seems obvious,” he wrote.

CST welcomed the new policing stance on Wednesday, calling it “not a moment too soon” and describing it as an essential first step toward curbing incitement. The group encouraged police nationwide — and the Crown Prosecution Service — to follow suit.

Calls for firmer action have intensified since the Manchester synagogue attack, where 53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz were killed by Jihad al-Shamie, who drove a car into worshippers before attacking others with a knife.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has been among the most outspoken voices demanding decisive intervention. Speaking after traveling to Sydney in response to the Bondi Beach attack, Mirvis said weekly marches in Britain had normalized chants that incite hatred.

“What does ‘globalize the intifada’ mean?” he asked. “On Yom Kippur in Manchester, we discovered what it means. On Bondi Beach, Australians discovered what is meant by those words.”

Mirvis said the UK must make clear that such speech is unlawful: “So much of hate speech has the potential to become translated into hate action.”

The move by UK police signals a significant shift in the country’s handling of protest language — and reflects growing pressure to balance free expression with the rising concerns of a community feeling increasingly under threat. Photo by Dun.can, Wikimedia commons.