Prosecutors told to fast-track hate crime trials amid 'troubling rise' in antisemitic attacks

Prosecutors have been told to "fast-track" hate crime trials following a "troubling rise" in antisemitic attacks.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson has issued guidance to prosecutors which says "any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently" once the evidential threshold for a charge is met.

It follows a series of attacks on Britain’s Jewish community.

Mr Parkinson said "only a fraction" of antisemitic crimes are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), saying the Jewish community faces "extreme acts of violence and criminal damage".

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Explaining the decision to fast-track hate crimes, the DPP said in his guidance to prosecutors: "Its purpose is to ensure that charging decisions are made swiftly and efficiently, with prosecutors focusing on the core evidence required to determine whether the evidential test is met.

"Where that threshold for prosecution is satisfied, then a prosecution decision should not be delayed, any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently."

It follows the announcement Jewish communities across England are set to receive an extra £1million of Government funding as ministers seek to tackle a rise in antisemitism.

The money is expected to pay for community safety work and projects aimed at countering antisemitic narratives.

The guidance continues: "This guidance is issued against a background of a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the country.

"These are not limited to the extreme acts of violence and criminal damage that are currently the subject of investigation and proceedings.

"Instead, it is evident that, as they go about their daily lives, the Jewish community face numerous incidents which involve threats or abuse and which are intended or likely to cause distress to Jewish people.

"All such incidents are crimes, but only a fraction of them are referred to the CPS. Where they are, we prosecute in the great majority of cases, with a high conviction rate."

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Mr Parkinson told reporters he was hoping "we can put a line in the sand" and that making decisions quickly would put a stop to an "uptick" in antisemitic behaviour.

He said: “What I wouldn’t want people to think is that we’re rushing ahead in cases where there’s any element of complexity.

"It’s important that the police are given the time, and in the recent cases that everyone is aware of, we’ve been working very closely with the police to help them build up a body of evidence that enabled us to make charging decisions."

Since late March there have been a series of arson attacks at Jewish sites in London, as well as a double stabbing in Golders Green that is being treated as an act of terrorism.

Counter-terrorism police also said officers were investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in Nelson Street, Whitechapel in the early hours of Tuesday.

The former synagogue in east London was due to be sold at auction earlier this year, with a separate bid by a Muslim group to buy the building and turn it into a mosque and community centre.

The DPP told reporters prosecutors had not "seen evidence of linkage", but added: "It seems there is a pattern of copycat antisemitism taking place".

He added: "As a result, people see this and they are sadly encouraged to go out and commit crimes themselves."

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