What further action has been taken following the increase in Antisemitism in London during May?

Ever since I was first elected in 2016, I have been clear that I will not tolerate racism of any kind in London, whether it is on the street, on public transport or online. I was pleased to see swift arrests made following recent incidents of antisemitism and I am grateful for the support of the whole Assembly for this zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism.

London is one of the most diverse and open cities in the world, but we cannot escape the fact that the capital faces a growing threat from extremism, including violent extremism. There is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that we do not embolden those who seek to use conflicts elsewhere in the world to divide us. We all must take a zero-tolerance approach to hate.

I am in close contact with Jewish communities and have discussed our shared concerns with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. As a result, Londoners will have seen an increased high-visibility police presence around synagogues and Jewish faith schools particularly, when required.

Of course antisemitism and other forms of hate crime are not something that police action alone can resolve. Communities have to come together to tackle hate and intolerance. That is one of the reasons why we launched our Shared Endeavour Fund, which supports projects delivered by civil society groups such as the Anne Frank Trust and the Union of Jewish Students, working across London to challenge antisemitism. My Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and my Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice attended an online meeting hosted by the London Jewish Forum recently, with many leading organisations and figures from the Jewish community. The meeting not only addressed hate crime but explored how we can work together to build long-term community cohesion. These conversations, along with the ongoing engagement by City Hall and the MPS with the Community Security Trust and the Shomrim mean that we are all working together to support and protect London’s Jewish communities. This engagement has helped to shape reassurance and preventative policing plans across London as well as our response supporting victims when a hate crime does occur.

I have invested more than any Mayor to tackle hate, intolerance and extremism in London, but I am not complacent. My determination to combat the scourge of hate crime and to celebrate the diversity that is one of London’s great strengths is undiminished. I will continue to work with all those who share those aims.

Thank you, Mr Mayor. Very many of our Jewish community are not feeling any better about this. I asked you about it recently. You said, “Sometimes, in general terms, when there is a march or a protest, rather than having snatch squads going in to arrest people, they often record and will arrest after the protest”. Yet of the 208 offences that took place that month, only 15 arrests were made. How can you square that with what the data is showing?

I have not seen that number, Chair. I am happy to talk ‑‑

I have been sent this data. Because you are leaving early and we have lost a lot of time I will leave it there, but we must protect the Jewish community. Antisemitism is rife. I will leave it there then, Chair. Thank you.

Chair, I am not leaving early. The Assembly ‑‑

They are recorded figures that we have. I will send them to you so that you can be informed and perhaps you will come back with an answer next time. Thank you, Chair.