The Board of Deputies and Union of Jewish Students met with policing minister Sarah Jones to brief her on key concerns of the community, including challenges faced on university campuses, the prosecution of antisemitic hate speech, and the role of West Midlands Police in the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the game with Aston Villa.
UJS President Louis Danker and Campaigns Director Samantha Cass described specific issues relating to antisemitic hate speech and intimidation faced by Jewish students. Board of Deputies Vice President Andrew Gilbert, Deputy Paul Harris, and Director of Public Affairs Toby Greene conveyed ongoing concerns about the prosecution of hate speech on protests and in other contexts, and called for these issues to be addressed in the review of legislation currently being led by Lord MacDonald.
While conveying the concerns of the community over the decision to ban fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv, they welcomed the minister’s commitment to get to the bottom of the issue, including the intelligence used by West Midlands Police. Andrew Gilbert also spoke of the important work of Maccabi in the UK and around the world, and the importance of not allowing misinformation to harm the name of this important institution.