Police in London and Manchester given extra £5m following Golders Green attack

Police in London and Manchester are to be given an extra £5 million to pay for more patrols around places of worship, the Home Office has said.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said the money would help “keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship”.

The funding uplift follows an alleged arson attack in Golders Green, north-west London, where four Jewish community ambulances were set alight last month, and a terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester last October.

It will go towards Project Servator deployments, involving specialist officers who are trained to spot suspects who might be preparing to commit serious crimes.

More than 20 people have already been arrested on suspicion of antisemitic hate crimes, as part of a separate Metropolitan Police effort to crack down on hate crimes after the incident in Golders Green.

Mr Jarvis said: “At a time of heightened concern for some communities, it is vital that we step up our support.

“Project Servator has a proven track record of stopping criminals and terrorists through highly visible, unpredictable deployments that vary in time and location, deterring those planning harm and reassuring the public.

“This new funding will back the police with the resources they need to step up patrols, protect communities, and keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship.”

According to the Home Office, previous Project Servator deployments have involved both visible uniformed and plain clothes officers.

They have led to arrests and drugs and weapons seizures.

The new effort, which builds on £73.4 million already committed for protective security at Jewish, Muslim and other faith sites for 2026-27, will initially focus on policing in communities, particularly faith communities, across London and Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police Inspector Chris Hadfield said: “This additional funding strengthens our commitment to Project Servator and will allow us the opportunity to expand the work we do in disrupting criminal activity.

“Our specially trained officers spot the tell-tale signs that someone is planning to commit an act of crime, while maintaining a strong and reassuring presence within the local communities.

“Since launching at Greater Manchester Police in 2016, Project Servator has continued to work in busy areas across the city, as well as maintaining safety at wider public events that visit Manchester, such as the Brit Awards earlier this year.

“Our patrols are highly visible, but deployments are unpredictable, and can happen at any time, in any given location.

“The teams also regularly conduct deployments in and around local faith communities, supporting cultural events and holy days.

“It is our aim that this funding will continue to support this mission and ensure the public always know the best places to report any suspicious or unusual activity.”

As part of the Met Police’s effort to crack down on antisemitism after the Golders Green blaze, the force is hosting meetings with community leaders to share intelligence and act on their concerns.

Two men have been charged as part of this specialist operation.

Jean Charles Tavius, 26, faces 11 counts of racially or religiously aggravated threatening behaviour, one count of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage and criminal damage.

Tavius, of Hackney, east London, was arrested on March 24 after officers were called to reports of a man shouting antisemitic abuse and throwing a rock at the window of a moving car.

Munir Saleh, 29, is charged with six counts of racially or religiously aggravated threatening behaviour, assault by beating and common assault.

Saleh, of Tottenham, north London, was arrested on Sunday after police received reports that a man was shouting antisemitic abuse and spitting at people.

Tavius is due to appear at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on May 6 and Saleh is expected to attend the same court the next day.

Commander Andy Featherstone said: “Hate crime, of any kind, has no place in our communities and we take all reports incredibly seriously.

“We have significantly improved how we deal with these offences and solving twice as many hate crimes compared to last year.

“However, we know some people are reluctant to come forward, and I hope this provides reassurance to communities that their reports will be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

“We are determined that London remains a safe and inclusive city for all, and this operation is part of our continued effort to achieve that aim.”

The force solved 1,525 hate crimes between October 2025 and February this year compared with 764 in the same period a year previous.