UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has expressed her concern about the double standards when it comes to antisemitism in the UK. Braverman, who is a fan of David Baddiel’s book “Jews
Don’t Count,” confided this fact to the Jewish Chronicle during an interview in the headquarters of the Community Security Trust (CST) in London. She noted that while racism directed against other minority groups would trigger a firm response from law enforcement, similar behavior towards the Jewish community tends to be ignored or explained away. She emphasized that antisemitism is not racism-lite, but racism itself, and a blind eye cannot be turned towards it as it will lead to it becoming normalised.
During her visit to the high-tech control room of the CST, Braverman was briefed on the operations of the organization and the scale of the threat to the Jewish community in the UK. She expressed anger at the fact that the police did not respond sufficiently to the reports of antisemitism that the CST receives every month.
Braverman has promised action and is leading the creation of a new Jewish Community Police, Crime and Security Task Force, which will include senior figures from the Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service, CST, and police. The Task Force will meet three times a year to enhance efforts to combat antisemitic crime and violence against Jewish communities, and to discuss security concerns relating to policing, terrorism, state threats, hate crime, and public order matters.
The Home Office figures reveal that Jews suffer the most hate crime per capita by far, despite making up less than 1% of the population in the UK. Braverman finds this sickening and points out that it is a problem that needs addressing urgently. She stated that the very existence of the CST suggests that law enforcement authorities have not been doing their jobs adequately.
Braverman’s husband is Jewish, and her children are being raised with a strong connection to their Jewish heritage. Her love for Jewish culture and values is clear, and she is taking a personal interest in tackling antisemitism in the UK. The Jewish Community Police, Crime and Security Task Force is a step in the right direction and will provide a regular forum to discuss security concerns and strengthen accountability. Photo by Beny Shlevich, Wikimedia commons.