29
December
2019
|
15:03
Europe/London

Joint statement: Camden responds to anti-Semitic graffiti

Last night, anti-Semitic graffiti appeared in a number of locations in Hampstead and Belsize Park. The Metropolitan Police are investigating this as a racially motivated hate crime.

Councillor Georgia Gould (Leader of Camden Council), Keir Starmer (MP for Holborn and St Pancras) and Tulip Siddiq (MP for Hampstead and Kilburn) have today released the following joint statement.

“As the Leader of Camden and MPs for Hampstead and Kilburn, and Holborn and St Pancras, we are horrified at the anti-Semitic graffiti that has been drawn on buildings around Hampstead and Belsize Park, including South Hampstead Synagogue. Camden is and always will be no place for hate. We stand together with all of our Jewish residents and our whole community in saying these cowardly pedlars of hate do not represent Camden and our values. We are proud to have a strong, vibrant Jewish community as part of our beautiful borough. 

“Camden’s street cleaning teams have spent this morning removing the offensive graffiti. This is largely complete, though the operation will continue into Monday on sites where the removal operation is more complex, including South Hampstead Synagogue. Camden Council are in close contact with the synagogue to ensure this removal takes places as quickly and sensitively as possible.

“The Council is supporting the Metropolitan Police in their investigations. If anyone has any information about these incidents, we encourage them to call the police on 101 and report using the reference CAD 7282/28Dec.

“These acts are deeply distressing, and Council staff, Police and community leaders will be out and about today, and over the coming week, to provide reassurance. This is not an isolated incident and we must all confront the rising tide of hate crime and antisemitism in the UK. Now is the moment to find the courage to confront hatred and prejudice wherever we see it.

“Jewish people around Camden and the world are marking the last night of Chanukah, lighting candles to commemorate the strength and continuity of the Jewish community through times of prejudice and hatred. 

“Chanukah is a time of love and hope, bringing light into the darkness. Today we make a public recommitment to ensure anti-Semitic hate finds no support in our communities, and that our Jewish friends, neighbours and colleagues feel safe and protected in Camden.”

We ask anyone with information about these incidents to call 101 quoting CAD 7282/28Dec or the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can read the Metropolitan Police’s update on their website.