Anti-Semitic incidents have increased in Greater Manchester, a new report shows.
There were 89 incidents reported to the Community Security Trust across the region in the first six months of 2010, compared to just 57 two years ago.
The figures represent a 56 per cent rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the two years.
However, the numbers of incidents fell dramatically since this time last year, when anti-Jewish sentiment increased amid a number of high profile international events, like the Gaza conflict in January of that year.
The body classifies as an anti-semitic incident any malicious act aimed at Jewish people, organisations or property, where there is evidence that the act has anti-semitic motivation or content, or the victim was targeted because they are (or are believed to be) Jewish.
The CST believe the increase is down to ‘changing’ demography in Prestwich and in north Manchester - due to a more visible Jewish community and those more willing to report anti-Semitism.
Mark Gardner, CST director of communications said: "After much analysis, we believe that the relative rise of incidents in Greater Manchester is mainly due to the changing demography of the visibly Jewish community (mainly in Prestwich); and also that community’s good links with CST’s local staff and volunteers."
And Lucille Cohen, president of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said: "I am very disturbed by the rise compared to 2008 and would hope that Bury Council’s efforts in social cohesion promote a more tolerant society."
In February, a mother and son were convicted of carrying out a series of racist attacks on Jewish people by driving past shouting abuse and spraying them with liquid
Manchester Evening News
