BOD & JLC publish recommended steps for government to prevent another attack on British Jews

May 5, 2026

Protect, Prosecute and Partner

Following the Heaton Park attack, the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council, and UJS released “After the Heaton Park Attack: Towards a comprehensive government strategy on antisemitism”, a document summarising key asks of government from the Jewish community. While many of these issues have seen progress, the Golders Green attack shows that the pace of change needs to increase, and government must step up to face this challenge as the crisis it is. Without losing sight of the longer-term policies needed to overcome anti-Jewish hatred, this document focusses on the steps which must be taken immediately to address this acute moment of national crisis. We are calling on government, with the backing of civil society to:

Protect British Jews against those who wish us harm.

Adequately resource police and security forces to ensure a consistent and visible deterrent to would be attackers and to provide reassurance to the Jewish community. In addition, uplift the Protective Security Grant to cover the expanding costs of guarding and security at Jewish locations.
Proscribe the IRGC and its proxies operating in the UK, delivering on previous government commitments. Also, hold Iran accountable while their embassy calls for violence and the regime poses a threat to British nationals and residents.
End incitement at pro-Palestinian protests where antisemitic hate speech is frequently taking place, including full use of public order powers to restrict or ban marches when necessary. This should include an urgent assessment of marches planned for 16 May.

Prosecute those inciting hatred through swift application of the law.

Accelerate the criminal justice system to fast-track the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for inciting hatred against Jews, whether on marches, online, in performances or in religious preaching.
End the postcode lottery on inciteful chants. Despite this issue being known for months, it continues to be the case that saying “globalise the intifada” results in arrests in London, Manchester and Birmingham but not elsewhere. This must end. In addition, conclude the Macdonald review and fast-track the most urgent recommendations needed to expedite the prosecution and deterrence of criminal hate speech and public order offences.
Set expedited timetable for counter-extremism measures in the Protecting What Matters action plan with clear deadlines. This includes new measures to tackle extremism within charities, schools and universities, and online.

Partner with the Jewish community by recognising and challenging modern manifestations of antisemitism in Britain.

Recognise that this is a crisis for the Jewish community and is therefore a British crisis.
Identify where this hatred exists in Britain and who is responsible for propagating it. The most recent plots and attacks have come from extremists within sections of the Muslim community or from Iran or its proxies. The main ideological drivers of anti-Jewish hatred more widely are Islamist extremism, far-left anti-Israel extremism, and the far-right.
Understand the link between hatred of Israel and violence on our streets. This is not about foreign policy, it is about showing an understanding of how the conflict is exploited by extremists who reject the very existence of Israel, and the responsibility of politicians and civil society not to be complicit in that extremism.
Stand by the Jewish community by coming out to rally against antisemitism on 10^th May, and by celebrating Jewish Culture Month (16 May to 16 June).