Lord Polak (Con)

My Lords, at its heart, this amendment is about confidence: confidence that when antisemitism occurs, it is recognised; confidence that when it crosses the criminal threshold, it will be prosecuted; and confidence that Jewish communities in this country are properly protected. Earlier today I spoke at the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Golders Green to 40 or 50 Holocaust survivors. I asked them a question: having been through what they went through, are they shocked and surprised about the extent of antisemitism in the United Kingdom today? It was shocking to hear what these people, given what they have been through, said to me. That proves it: the confidence that I referred to is being tested. Too often, cases are not progressing as they should. Too often, victims come forward and see no meaningful outcome. Too often, the antisemitic nature of an offence is not fully reflected in how it is handled. When that happens repeatedly, confidence begins to erode. The amendment is necessary for a very straightforward reason: at present, antisemitism is not properly prosecuted. That is the reality. We are seeing cases where clear antisemitic conduct is not being charged, or where cases are being dropped. At the same time, antisemitism itself is rising sharply and visibly. That combination is deeply concerning. Part of the difficulty is that modern antisemitism is multifaceted. It includes long-standing forms of hatred, but it also appears online through extremist propaganda designed to normalise hostility towards Jewish people. Recent events have shown the devastating consequences of this hatred, both in the UK and abroad. It is often expressed through language and slogans that require context to understand. Phrases such as “globalise the intifada” or “Zionists off our streets” are not always interpreted consistently. The CPS is not equipped to deal with that complexity at present, and a dedicated unit would help to address it.