The Community Security Trust has acknowledged the increased police presence in Jewish areas of London as part of a new operation launched by the Metropolitan Police.

In a letter sent to Jewish communal organisations, the Met said Operation Hercules, which started this week, would: “Visibly deploy more armed officers on proactive operations and targeted patrols across London.”

Mark Gardner, CST’s director of communications, said: “CST and the police have worked very closely together to plan and enact armed foot patrols in various areas of London with large Jewish communities.

“It is not in response to any specific threat, but is part of the overall increase in visibly armed Police patrols in London.”

Synagogues and other groups sent members details of the operation on Monday amid concerns about the increase in heavily-armed officers in Golders Green, Hendon and other areas with large Jewish communities.

A video featuring Simon Rose, Barnet’s borough commander, was released last week.

In it he said: “In January, the Commissioner said London was going to get 600 extra officers. You will see some of them around Barnet.

“There’s no new intel and there’s no new threat. They are there to make Barnet a more hostile environment for terrorists to operate in.

“You may see them. If you do, please go and say hello. They are there to make Barnet safer.”