Golders Green community weighs staying in Britain as security tightens amid rising antisemitism

Armed police and security patrols have become a familiar sight in Golders Green, a leafy north London suburb widely regarded as Britain’s Jewish capital. In recent days, families here have described a sense that safety has frayed, even as the community strives to carry on with daily life around schools, synagogues and kosher shops. The mood echoes a string of incidents abroad, including a deadly attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney just days earlier and a separate attack outside a Manchester synagogue in October, events that have reverberated within this tightly knit community.

In the first half of 2025, antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom rose to levels described by security and advocacy groups as troubling. CST, the volunteer-run Community Security Trust, and other community organizations report 84 cases of damage or desecration of Jewish property, 96 direct threats, 21 incidents of mass-produced antisemitic literature, and 1,236 incidents of abusive behavior. In Golders Green and nearby areas, schools have increased security presence, and parents say they are increasingly vigilant about their children’s safety. One bakery owner in Temple Fortune said he had started to question whether Jews can continue to live in Britain, noting that people are anxious about the future and that many feel compelled to consider leaving the country.

Residents describe a daily reality colored by fear and a sense that antisemitism has become more than a fringe issue. A parent who asked not to be named said she has become accustomed to conversations about terrorism training for her children and worries aloud about whether Jews will still feel at home in the country two decades from now. “If we continue on the trajectory we’ve been on I don’t see myself here,” she said. “My roots are British, my family is British.” Others in the community emphasize their commitment to integration but acknowledge an atmosphere of heightened tension that some say has altered social norms and daily routines.

CST officials and supporters stress that security efforts have been ongoing for years but have surged in response to higher threats. Dr. Dave Rich, CST’s Director of Policy, said antisemitism has long existed, but it has grown to affect everyday life in a way that makes Jews feel exposed wherever they are. “Antisemitism has always been there, but now it feels like a danger you can’t ignore, and you can’t escape it,” Rich said. CST provides security guidance and equipment for Jewish schools, organizations and synagogues across the country, and coordinates with police to ensure a visible security presence in sensitive locations. He noted that while funding and police protection have increased in recent years, the “tap” of extremism remains a problem that requires continued enforcement, education and broader societal efforts to reduce hate.

For many residents the sense of insecurity is coupled with a difficult reality: the area remains deeply connected to Jewish life and culture. Keren Zion, who works in a bagel shop in Golders Green, said that even though security is visible, residents do not feel completely safe. “In London I don’t feel safe; there is a good amount of security in Golders Green but I don’t feel safe here,” she said. She added that CST patrols and police presence have become a daily fixture, especially after the Sydney attack, and that the community relies on quick communication channels to respond to any perceived threat.

Aryeh Gavzey, a local butcher, echoed a mix of familiarity and caution. He said it is “safer” to be within the Jewish areas where people know each other and look out for one another, yet he acknowledged a persistent unease. “There’s always things happening, but being in this environment and going through the Jewish areas I feel safer because it’s more normalized and there’s less prejudice,” he noted, while acknowledging the ongoing impact of global incidents on his customers and colleagues.

The broader political and social reaction to antisemitism remains a central issue for both the community and elected representatives. Sarah Sackman, the Member of Parliament for Finchley and Golders Green, stressed that while local initiatives and security upgrades are critical, national action is essential. Sackman highlighted the government’s commitment to security funding for the Community Security Trust and to anti-extremism measures, while underscoring that there is still work to be done to curb hate and to rebuild a sense of safety among Jewish Britons. “Ambient antisemitism is peppered with flashpoints, moments the community will not forget,” she said, noting that lawmakers must continue to translate concern into concrete policy and funding.

The human toll of broader antisemitic violence was underscored by memorials and community vigils after high-profile attacks abroad. Last month’s Sydney tragedy, in which 15 people including a 10-year-old girl were killed on Bondi Beach during Chanukah, resonated across the Jewish diaspora. In Golders Green, residents mourned while trying to return to ordinary life, with some saying the attack reinforced their resolve to stay and maintain Jewish life in Britain even as fear persists. In addition, local families referenced the Manchester attack on Yom Kippur in October, which left several community members grieving and contributed to a national conversation about security and resilience.

The Jewish community in Golders Green remains small but connected, with Jewish schools, kosher shops and synagogues forming a tight network within a largely diverse London environment. It is a setting where cultural markers—such as bagel shops and kosher butchers adjacent to non-Jewish businesses—reflect a history of coexistence, even as residents navigate new security protocols and a climate of heightened vigilance. The 2016 adoption by the government of the IHRA definition of antisemitism remains a reference point for local and national discussions about what constitutes hate and how it should be addressed in policy and practice. The community’s leaders and allies say continued collaboration among law enforcement, civil society and government is essential to turn back the rise in hate while protecting a vibrant Jewish life in Britain.

As Greater London and the United Kingdom confront this moment, leaders say outward-facing security measures must be matched by efforts to reduce the drivers of antisemitism through education, outreach and enforcement of laws against hate. CST continues to work with police and schools to bolster protection, and government support—including funding for security and anti-extremism initiatives—remains a pillar of the strategy to safeguard Jewish institutions and communities. While the immediate threat is real, the community’s leaders emphasize resilience and a commitment to remain part of British society, even as some residents weigh a future beyond the United Kingdom if the threat persists or intensifies.