Police in northeast London have stepped up patrols after a series of street attacks on Jewish women in Stamford Hill. Stamford Hill, in the north London boroughs of Hackney and Haringey, is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested after women were attacked in public areas along Upper Clapton Road, including one woman who was pushing a pram with her infant. Members of Shomrim (a volunteer Jewish civilian neighbourhood watch organisation) made up of local volunteers, responded quickly, and officers were able to detain the suspect within minutes.
He has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault and other violent offences. The incident is being treated as a suspected hate crime. To reassure residents, police have increased visible patrols across the borough of Hackney.
The response in the UK reflects concerns that are shared across the wider Commonwealth. Everyone, whatever their faith, gender or background, should be able to walk down the street without facing hostility or harassment because of who they are. When hate-motivated attacks do happen, authorities need to act firmly, enforce the law, discourage others from copying such behaviour and protect the people most at risk.
The war in the Middle East has frequently made British Jews the target of antisemitic attacks. Back in 2001, a convoy of around 200 cars flying Palestinian Authority flags drove into Jewish neighbourhoods in north London. A loudspeaker in the convoy called for the rape of Jewish women and girls and was captured on film.
Countries across the Commonwealth, rich and developing alike, need to stay alert and open about how they deal with offences driven by religion or identity. Laws that classify racially and religiously motivated violence as aggravated offences clearly indicate that authorities will take targeted abuse seriously. With strong court action, community involvement and a visible presence on the streets, authorities can protect social cohesion and keep neighbourhoods safe for everyone.
