Combating Antisemitism: A British Best Practice Guide

Combating Antisemitism: A British Best Practice Guide

Over more than a decade, successive British Governments and the parliaments which hold them to account have together been seeking to build and continuously improve upon efforts to combat antisemitism.

The UK has a proud history of democratic accountability, free speech and appropriate statutory regulation. Protection from discrimination exists in the UK for a number of what are known as ‘protected characteristics’. These include age, sexuality, gender, race and religion. There is no specific law on antisemitism in the UK, rather offences might be covered by public order laws, anti-discrimination laws, human rights law, communications law or the civil law, depending on the circumstances. Despite the UK being acknowledged as having one of the best legislative frameworks in the world to address hate crime, it is essential to employ an accompanying robust communications strategy which reassures the public that those who commit hate crimes will be punished with the full force of the law.