Sharp rise in religious hate crimes

THE number of antisemitic hate crimes recorded by many of the UK’s largest police forces, including Greater Mancher Police jumped sharply in the weeks following the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict, figures reveal.

Islamophobic offences also rose for some forces, although the picture was more mixed across the country.

Jewish charities called the findings “shocking”, while campaigners against anti-Muslim abuse said the data was “deeply worrying”.

The Home Office condemned the rise in offences, adding: “There is no place for hate in our society.”

The figures have been obtained by the PA news agency using Freedom of Information requests. They show that: