Statement from Metropolitan Police Borough Commander Dan Knowles on protecting the local Jewish community in the wake of Hamas' attacks on Israel.
I am writing with reference to the horrific situation continuing in the Middle East. I know that our community have extreme concerns for family in friends in the affected areas, as well as a considerable concern for disorder, hate crime and potential for violence in London.
I have this morning met with NW SLT colleagues and we have built a Command structure that will draw out community tension, criminal intelligence, crime monitoring and public engagement/feedback regularly and thoroughly.
We are actively deploying enhanced visible patrols to school premises, faith premises, as well as affected businesses and charity organisations. This will provide a meaningful two-way communications process to manage moving forward; and an ability to be responsive to all aspects of crime, intelligence and community tension.
Within the plan we will deliver local partnership meetings to continue that two way flow of information, response and feedback.
My thoughts are with all of those who have family, friends and community members impacted by this stark situation. I do not under estimate the scale and gravity of the situation and will do everything possible to be proactively engaging, early in responding and investigating, with a depth of thoroughness appropriate to these grave circumstances.
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