Extra £5m pledged for patrolling places of worship
Extra £5m pledged for patrolling places of worship
The Home Office has announced an additional £5 million in funding for enhanced security patrols at places of worship in London and Manchester. This allocation aims to bolster police efforts in safeguarding faith communities amid rising concerns over targeted attacks.
Security minister Dan Jarvis emphasized the importance of the funding, stating it would “ensure safety in locations where individuals live, work, and practice their faith.” The decision follows incidents such as the alleged arson attack in Golders Green, northwest London, where four Jewish community ambulances were damaged last month, and a terror incident at a Manchester synagogue in October. These events, alongside reports of increasing Islamophobia, have prompted the need for stronger protective measures.
“At a time of heightened concern for some communities, it is vital that we step up our support,” Jarvis said. “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.”
Project Servator involves specialist officers trained to identify suspects preparing for serious crimes. The Home Office noted that prior deployments of the initiative have included both uniformed and plain-clothed personnel, resulting in arrests and the seizure of drugs and weapons.
Greater Manchester Police Inspector Chris Hadfield highlighted that the new funding will “allow us to expand the work we do in disrupting criminal activity,” building on the £73.4m already allocated for protective security at Jewish, Muslim, and other faith sites during 2026-27. Meanwhile, Met Police Cdr Andy Featherstone reaffirmed the commitment to addressing hate crime, asserting that “hate crime, of any kind, has no place in our communities and we take all reports incredibly seriously.”
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