Sadiq Khan has told the JC that the new Met police commissioner understands the “ripples of hate” that come out of antisemitic incidents in London.
The mayor, speaking at the lighting of the Trafalgar Square menorah on the second night of Chanukah also said that both City Hall and the Metropolitan police continue to have “zero tolerance” despite a spate of antisemitic incidents in London this month.
At the Trafalgar Square menorah lighting, Sadiq Khan gives a Chanukah message to Jewish Londoners and all Jews celebrating around the world. pic.twitter.com/x3g5F7pLhz
— Josh Kaplan (@JNkappers) December 19, 2022
Mr Khan, in an opinion piece for the JC in March this year, promised “to work harder than ever to root out antisemitism”. When asked about the progress of the work he was doing, the mayor said that he was listening to Jewish Londoners who said they wanted to see more bobbies on the beat.
He said: “The commissioner is doing is a number of things that should reassure the community, bringing back the bobbies on the beat and neighbourhood policing.
“We've got an additional 650 officers both in town centres and in wards. And the idea is these officers don’t simply reassure the community but are the eyes and the ears of the police to get intelligence, to make people safer and feel safer as well.”
The mayor also addressed the delicate issue of the two failed prosecutions over the north London hate convoy in May 2021 and the antisemitic attack on Oxford Street last Chanukah. He added: “I’m disappointed. Unfortunately, there were no successful prosecutions but it's not for want of trying from the police service.
The Met Police are believed to have dropped the investigation into last year's Oxford Street Chanukah attack on Jewish teenagers.
— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) October 7, 2022
Police have said that after they were unable to identify the perpetrators, a decision was made in July to close the case. pic.twitter.com/0fjSaK0Mxz
“The new commissioner understands the ripples of hatred that can spread when you allow individuals to, you know, come to a community with a convoy or what we saw in Oxford Street. If anybody has information at all about either those two incidents, they should come forward.
“But just to reassure the community, the Met has zero tolerance for antisemitism, just like City Hall.”
Mr Khan, who is known for his fierce opposition to several government policies, also said that he would continue to fund more police officers from City Hall instead of waiting for central government funding.
He said: “The Jewish community will see more and more police officers, as a consequence of both City Hall funding and some government support.
“After 12 years of austerity, we're still officers short because our population has grown. Over the last 10 years we've got a million more Londoners. We've got fewer police officers. So we've invested from City Hall directly.”
After his remarks to the media, Mayor Khan enjoyed a festive doughnut at the menorah lighting, which was organised by the JLC, before paying tribute to the diversity that he called one of London’s greatest strengths.
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Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London enjoys a Chanukah doughnut at the Trafalgar Square Menorah (Marc Morris)
He said: “Just think about what message you send around the world in Trafalgar Square, one of the most famous squares in the world, you've got a mayor of Islamic faith, who comes along and menorah is next to our wonderful Christmas tree.
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Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London at the Trafalgar Square Menorah (Marc Morris)
“And I want this menorah to be a beacon seen around the world of how different faiths don't simply tolerate one another in London. We respect each other, we embrace each other and we celebrate each other.
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The Menorah in Trafalgar Square (Marc Morris)
“And so for me, one of the highlights of the year celebrated Chaunkah with Jewish brothers and sisters, but also at a time and we know unfortunately, antisemitism is yet again on the rise. It's really important that Jewish Londoners don't hide away. I want them to be out and about celebrating this important festival.”
