Working with the police

In light of the continued high level of antisemitic incidents and terrorist threats faced by the UK Jewish community in recent years, CST’s close relationship with the Police is more important than ever.

A Close Relationship
We have a close working relationship with police officers of all ranks which includes joint patrols, training exercises and regular consultations on strategic issues in our work against antisemitism and protecting our community. CST is represented on numerous Police and liaison groups, including the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force Unit at Scotland Yard and Community & Police Consultative Groups throughout Britain.

CST is also actively involved in working with the Police on a wider community level with interfaith groups as a way of helping to ensure good community relations.

An important part of our work is to brief regional and local police teams on any possible considerations when they react to an incident in a synagogue. These sessions give officers a better insight into the specific practices and needs of the Jewish community, and have been very warmly received.

Sabbath and Religious Holidays
CST and the Police work very hard to ensure that Jewish communities are protected as they go to synagogue on the Sabbath and during the religious holidays.

Where there are large Jewish populations, joint teams of Police officers and CST volunteers are deployed on foot patrols. Not only do these patrols provide reassurance for the local community, but they also give local Safer Neighbourhood officers an opportunity to gain a better insight into, and understanding of, the particular problems faced by observant Jews when attempting to combat and report crime.

Publications

• In 2007 CST produced the ‘Police Officer’s Guide to Judaism’ which explains to Police officers the key customs and beliefs of Judaism. Click here to download the guide
  
  This resource has been produced in response to requests from many serving Police officers who would like to know more about the Jewish religion, and how they can better assist their local Jewish communities. It explains traditions and religious customs highlighting practical daily issues concerning the sabbath, dietary laws and matters of death and burial
  
  There is also a ‘Fire and recue Service Guide to Judaism’

• ‘The Holocaust: A Guide for Police Personnel’, funded by CST and published by The Holocaust Centre in association with the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), is designed to help Police officers understand and apply lessons from the Holocaust for policing in modern Britain
  
  For a copy of the guide please contact CST

• A joint initiative between CST, the Jewish Police Association (JPA) and the Union of Jewish Students featured a leaflet to encourage the reporting of antisemitic crime. These credit-card sized leaflets were distributed primarily to students who are particularly vulnerable on campus, as well as to other vulnerable groups