UK plans to spend £250 million over three years to protect Jewish communities

London: Britain will spend over £250 million ($335 million) across ​the next three ​years to better protect its Jewish communities, the ​government said on Monday, following a series of recent antisemitic attacks.

The funding will deliver over 500 additional officers across England and ‌Wales, boosting ⁠security ⁠in Jewish neighbourhoods and around schools, synagogues and community centres, ​the government said.

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There has been a string of attacks on Jewish-linked ​sites in the capital, including the torching of four Jewish community ambulances in March. In April, Britain raised its ​national terrorism threat level to "severe" from "substantial" ⁠in response to ‌an antisemitic stabbing attack in north ​London.

The ​new package, which is on top ⁠of a £25 million funding announced following the stabbings in ​April, includes around 300 additional officers in ​London and around 80 in Greater Manchester - where a synagogue was attacked last year - alongside £43 million for forces serving other areas with significant Jewish populations.

"The rise in antisemitism we have seen in recent years ‌is a test of our values as a country and tackling it has been central to ​my ​leadership from day ⁠one," outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in Monday's statement.

London's Metropolitan Police is due to receive £86 million from the new ​funding, while £59 million was earmarked for counter-terrorism policing.

Also Read: “Shame on You”: Keir Starmer hit by backlash after attack—sign of rising tensions in UK?

Police will increase patrols at times of heightened vulnerability, offering visible reassurance and helping to deter hate crime and antisemitic incidents, the government said. ($1 = 0.7460 pounds)