Anti-Semitic violence in the UK is still near record levels, according to figures published this week. In what is the first bi-annual survey of incidents, the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 266 anti-Semitic incidents in the first six months of 2008, a nine per cent rise from the 244 incidents recorded in the same period last year. The rise is mainly from smaller Jewish communities beyond the main centres of London and Manchester, and probably reflects improved reporting from those areas. There is also a significant increase in the number of reported incidents involving students, both on and off their university campus.
This week in Manchester a bus driver was reported to the police for verbal abusive during a levoya near a cemetery that has been the target of frequent vandalism and graffiti. The large funeral cortege blocked local traffic for a short time and the driver, unable to keep to his schedule shouted, “You lot think you own everything!” It is thought doubtful whether any actual criminal offence was committed and the driver is expected to get off with a caution.
Thankfully, the number of violent anti-Semitic assaults has fallen by 24 per cent compared to the first six months of 2007, from 54 to 42 incidents. 2007 had seen the highest ever total of violent assaults since CST began recording incidents in 1984. The number of incidents of Abusive Behaviour, which includes verbal abuse, hate mail and anti-Semitic graffiti on non-Jewish property, rose in the first half of the year by 21 per cent, from 137 to 166 incidents.
There were 49 incidents reported to CST that involved Jewish students, student bodies or academics, almost double the 26 incidents of this type reported to CST in the same period last year. Of these incidents, 31 were on campus and 18 were off campus.
(Bezalel Cohen for Jewish Tribune – UK)