Government Antisemitism Adviser Calls For Policy Response Amid Record Hate Incidents
The Community Support Trust (CST) reported 1,978 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2024, a record high. (Alamy)
5 min read
Lord Mann, the government's adviser on antisemitism, has told PoliticsHome that record antisemitism figures in the first half of 2024 are "sadly no surprise" and has called for a policy response.
On Thursday, Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that fights against antisemitism in Britain, released new figures that revealed 1,978 antisemitic incidents occurred across the UK in the first half of 2024 – the highest total ever reported to the charity, and a 105 per cent increase on the last six months of 2023.
“The disgraceful surge in British antisemitism is further evidenced by these latest figures. It happens across society, including in schools, campuses, places of work, public transport and on the streets," said Mark Gardner, the CST’s chief executive, in a statement.
“The CST applauds our community’s ever-increasing determination to stand strong and proud, despite the hatred, vilification and blatant double standards that we too often face, including from many who perversely call themselves anti-racists.”
Speaking to PoliticsHome, Lord Mann said the spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK was heavily linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
"There's no surprise... I think government recognizes it very clearly," said Mann.
"We know that when there's conflict there's always been a spike – and a big spike – and the conflict is ongoing."
Mann also said there is evidence, particularly in recent weeks, that activity among the far-right on social media channels encouraging the targeting of Jewish people has increased amid far-right riots across England.
"We've also got significant evidence of the far right demanding to target anyone who's Jewish on things like Telegram," said Mann.
Mann said it is likely the issue is also worse than figures suggest, because in his capacity as antisemitism adviser he is aware of many cases that are not officially reported to organisations like the CST.
"All the feedback I have – which is quite a lot – is absolutely not in those CST statistics because those people keep quiet about it," said Mann.
"The statistics underplay the seriousness of the situation, they don't overplay it.
"But I think the key thing for government is to look at the trend line... I've made the point to government in recent days it's very important that while we've rightly focused on attempts to attack mosques and immigration centers and so on, that we don't ignore the ongoing harassment of the Jewish community."
Mann also said there has been "hidden targeting of Jewish people" which has gone unreported, including in the work place.
"You might feel the atmosphere, but you don't necessarily experience anything that's been done in a more aggressive way that kind of in your face – instead, it's behind your back," said Mann.
"And that problem has increased dramatically."
Mann said addressing the role of social media companies allowing antisemitic material on their platforms played an important role in tackling the rising issue of antisemitism.
"What I'm calling for is publisher liability," said Mann.
There is no publishers' liability for social media companies and it's a fundamental unbalance.
"If you're a journalist, if you broadcast or write – and you encourage violence against me, or give a platform to someone who does – I could do something without that because there's a publishers' and broadcasters' liability.
"There is no publishers' liability for social media companies and it's a fundamental unbalance."
He also added there could be changing police guidance, rather than new legislation, to help address the issue of rising antisemitism online.
"We could use the Harassment Act 1997 for cyber harassment – for some things, that would be very effective, and it's a very low threshold on the Harassment Act," said Mann.
"But there needs to be change in the police guidance on how to use that act.
"It's not changing the law, because they could act immediately then – then they could issue a warning at the first incident, and they could arrest on the second incident if police guidance changes.
"We could do it on cyber harassment as well as other harassment under existing law."
Mann also said community cohesion, and cross community relations, would play an important role in tackling rising antisemitism.
"We all at the moment, in this the current world, tend to live in our own bubbles," said Mann.
"We obviously all live in the areas we live in, and they differ. We do the things we do, and they differ – but I think online, we have been forced into social bubbles where you're either surrounded by people who totally agree with or people who viciously disagree and want to abuse you."
He added: "We have a very good model in London whereby the London Jewish Forum and the police meet regularly; I think that model of community interaction with a small number of community representatives in constant dialog with the police over what is happening, how it's happening, is incredibly helpful, and that model should be expanded and promoted that could apply across the country to different communities.
"I think it's a very powerful model, and I think that it will reassure but I also think it will provide an awful lot of knowledge and information of what's going on."
Responding to the CST's report, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The soaring levels of antisemitic hate outlined in this report are truly appalling, and we must never relent in our work to root out this hatred in all its forms.
"There is no place in Britain for this vile hatred and we are absolutely clear that those who push this poison – on the streets or online – must always face the full force of the law.
"I want to thank the CST for their tireless daily work to keep our Jewish communities safe. This government is committed to multi-year funding for the CST, and to working with the Jewish community and the police to ensure that everybody feels safe on our streets.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
