Metropolitan Police Officers took part in recent a training exercise with members of the Jewish community to test how the Met would respond to an anti-Semitic attack.

Attendees included representatives from hatzolas (Jewish volunteer emergency medical services) and shomrims based in London. Shomrims are voluntary organisations that operate as neighbourhood watch groups, specifically for the Jewish community. They work with police to tackle a number of issues, such as vandalism, burglary and anti-Semitic behaviour. They also provide support to victims of crime.

The training ran through several hypothetical scenarios, each involving a terrorist attack on Jewish people. These included an incident at a synagogue and at a public meeting. In each scenario, officers discussed with the attendees how they would work together to ensure the safety of the public.

Nochum Dewhurst, from Shomrim North West London, says joint exercises like these are vital for the both the police and community organisations, “Whilst we don’t have any police powers, we have dedicated resources to gather intelligence and provide a faster response to certain crimes.

“In the event of a critical incident, we’re more likely to be the first at the scene. That’s why it’s vital we work together with the Met to share information and prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack.”

The exercise was part of Counter Terrorism Awareness Week, which saw events taking place across London with local businesses and the public to raise awareness of the current terrorist threat.

These included street briefings to reassure the public and meetings with local businesses to provide guidance on staying vigilant over the busy Christmas shopping period.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)