Barnet Council is set to enhance awareness and reporting of hate crime across the borough through a new cross-council initiative, bolstered by central government funding.
The Safer Communities Partnership Board met on Friday, September 18, 2026, to discuss a range of community safety issues, with a particular focus on combating hate crime. The board received an update on the council's cohesion work, which has been accelerated by recent hate crime incidents and central government funding awarded from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for a two-year period.
As part of this initiative, two new officers are being recruited: an Early Intervention Hate Crime Officer and a Community Cohesion Engagement Officer. These roles, funded for two years, will work with community organisations and faith groups to foster dialogue, listen to concerns, and bring communities together. The Early Intervention Hate Crime Officer will be based within the community safety team, while the Community Cohesion Engagement Officer will be working face-to-face with community organisations and faith groups on the ground.
Workshops with Jewish and Muslim community organisations are already underway to identify priorities for allocating the remainder of the central government funding. The Jewish community has called for more targeted hate crime communications, including assets that specifically mention antisemitism and depict visibly Jewish people. They also highlighted a need for education to tackle misinformation and raise awareness in schools and the wider community. Similar discussions are planned with Muslim community leaders to understand their priorities. A strong call has also been made for more opportunities for communal mixing to emphasize shared values between communities.
Candice, who provided a communications update, stated that raising awareness of hate crime and supporting the council's cohesion work are key priorities. Will Cooper from the Community Participation team outlined the cross-council programme to foster cohesion, which has been accelerated by recent hate crime incidents and central government funding.
Chief Inspector Tom Hinson of the Barnet Community Policing Team noted an increase in hate crime in the borough, with antisemitism being a significant reported type. While primary motivations are not explicitly detailed, the context of recent terrible incidents
and unpleasantness in the Middle East
suggests a link to broader geopolitical events. However, he also highlighted a positive trend in detection rates, which have steadily increased over the last two months, coinciding with the introduction of the Community Protection Team. Detection rates for hate crime have risen to around 25%, a significant increase from approximately 6% last year. This rise in detection rates is attributed to the introduction of the Community Protection Team.
The initiative aims to address barriers to reporting hate crimes by fostering dialogue and increasing awareness. Barnet Hill Academy and Hendon School will be hosting assemblies for parents and young people about hate crime awareness, how to report it, and what constitutes a hate crime, coinciding with Hate Crime Awareness Week from October 10th to 17th.
Further details on the Safer Communities Partnership Board meeting can be found in the Public reports pack. The agenda for the meeting is available here, and minutes from the previous meeting can be accessed here.
