Several major police forces in the UK have reported a significant surge in both antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes over the past 18 months, with two distinct spikes following specific international and domestic events. These increases highlight the impact of global events on local communities.
Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests by the PA news agency reveals a notable rise in antisemitic offenses following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East in October 2023. Forces like Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and the Metropolitan Police experienced a marked increase in such incidents during this period.
Subsequently, these same forces recorded a surge in Islamophobic hate crimes after the Southport stabbings in July 2024, followed by associated civil unrest. This pattern suggests a direct correlation between international events and domestic hate crime rates.
Jewish community leaders have described the findings as "unacceptable," while advocates against anti-Muslim discrimination have expressed concern about insufficient action to address the issue. These groups are calling for stronger measures to combat these trends.
For example, Greater Manchester Police, which averaged 13 antisemitic crimes per month before October 2023, saw numbers jump to 85 in October and 68 in November. Similarly, Islamophobic crimes rose from an average of 35 per month in 2023 to 85 in August 2024, following the Southport incidents. Other forces also documented similar spikes.
While data collection methods varied across different police forces, resulting in an inability to provide an overall total for the country, the trend of significant year-on-year increases in both types of religious hate crime was apparent across most forces. This indicates that these are not isolated incidents.
A spokesperson for the Jewish charity, Community Security Trust, noted a sharp increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes following the October 7th attacks in Israel, to levels that are still elevated beyond "normal". Similarly, Tell Mama, a monitoring group against anti-Muslim hate, said their data showed these incidents spike around international issues and far-right agitation.
The UK government has responded, stating its determination to tackle hate crimes. They emphasized the use of law enforcement against perpetrators, and committed significant protective funding for Muslim and Jewish communities through 2027-2028. However, community organizations are requesting additional, focused action.
