Police get extra £5m to patrol places of worship after Golders Green and Manchester attacks

Police forces in London and Manchester will receive an additional £5 million to support patrols around places of worship, the Home Office has confirmed.

The funding increase follows an arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, in March and a terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester in October.

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

Additional resources will be directed to Project Server deployments, staffed by specialist officers trained to identify individuals who may be preparing to commit serious crimes.

This comes as the Metropolitan Police arrested more than 20 people on suspicion of antisemitic hate crimes in a separate effort following the Golders Green incident.

Mr Jarvis said it was “vital” to increase support “at a time of growing concern for some communities”.

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

“This new funding will support police with the resources they need to increase patrols, protect communities and keep people safe where they live, work and worship.”

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, previous Project Server assignments have involved officers in both visible uniform and plainclothes.

They led to arrests and seizures of drugs and weapons.

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

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

“Our specially trained officers maintain a strong and reassuring presence in local communities, detecting signs that someone is planning to commit criminal activity.

“Since Project Servator began operating at Greater Manchester Police in 2016, it has continued to work in busy areas across the city, providing security at wider public events visiting Manchester, such as the Brit Awards earlier this year.

“Our patrols are highly visible, but deployments are unpredictable and can occur at any time, anywhere.

“Teams also regularly carry out deployments in and around local faith communities, supporting cultural events and holy days.

“Our goal is that this funding will continue to support this mission and ensure that the public always knows the best places to report suspicious or unusual activity.”

As part of the Met Police’s drive to crack down on antisemitism following the Golders Green fire, the force is holding meetings with community leaders to share intelligence and take action on concerns.

Two men were charged as part of this particular operation.

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

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

Münir Salih, 29, is charged with six counts of racially or religiously threatening conduct, assault by beating and common assault.

Saleh, from Tottenham, north London, was arrested on Sunday after police received reports of a man shouting anti-Semitic abuse and spitting at people.

Tavius ​​is expected to appear in Stratford Magistrates’ Court on May 6, while Saleh is expected to appear in 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 the way we deal with these crimes and solved twice as many hate crimes compared to last year.

“But 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 committed to ensuring that London remains a safe and inclusive city for all, and this operation is part of our ongoing efforts to achieve this aim.”

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