Prosecutors in England and Wales have been directed to expedite hate crime prosecutions following a series of antisemitic attacks, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer described on Tuesday as a crisis affecting everyone.
New Guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions
Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, issued new guidance on Tuesday instructing staff to bring forward hate crime cases as quickly as possible, rather than waiting to gather all available evidence before proceeding.
Parkinson stated: "The acts of extreme violence and criminal damage against the Jewish community in recent months are deplorable. Arrests and charges have been made, and these cases will be processed swiftly. However, daily threats and abuse also contribute to a climate of fear, and these are criminal offences too."
Under the revised approach, prosecutors are encouraged to initiate hate crime prosecutions promptly, even if some supporting evidence can be obtained later. This marks a departure from standard procedure for other offences, where a full evidence file is typically required before a charging decision.
In certain cases, such as public order offences, prosecutors may recommend charges based solely on a reliable victim's account, without additional corroborating evidence. For assault cases, they will consider photographic evidence of injuries or medical records.
Government Measures to Combat Antisemitism
The new guidance is part of broader efforts by Starmer to address antisemitism following last week's attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, which police are treating as terrorism.
Starmer convened a summit at Downing Street, urging universities, arts groups, charities, and other institutions to take stronger action against antisemitism. Universities will be required to publish audits on the prevalence of antisemitism on their campuses, while Arts Council England will be expected to withdraw and recover funding from any recipients found to promote antisemitism.
The prime minister warned Iran of consequences if investigations reveal its involvement in recent antisemitic incidents, including the Golders Green stabbings and arson attacks. "We are investigating all possibilities, and these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case," Starmer said. "Our message to Iran or any other country seeking to foment violence, hatred, or division is that it will not be tolerated."
The government has pledged to introduce legislation to facilitate sanctions on state-backed groups like Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), though it faces pressure to act more swiftly.
Reactions from Jewish Organizations
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which was not invited to the summit, criticized the government's stance. A spokesperson said: "We all know Iran is a malign influence in this country. Why hasn't the IRGC been proscribed and its ambassador expelled?"
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which attended the summit, echoed this call for proscribing the IRGC.
Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, acknowledged that antisemitism persists in universities and wider society despite diligent efforts. "Tackling this growing societal evil requires all of us working together to make a difference," she said.
The summit and new prosecutorial guidance aim to restore a sense of safety for the Jewish community, with Starmer emphasizing: "Stopping antisemitism is not someone else's responsibility; it is all of ours."
