Police will patrol holy day trips to synagogue (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Police will patrol holy day trips to synagogue

2:28pm Saturday 8th September 2007

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GREATER Manchester Police is to run an operation to provide extra patrols and reassurance to the Jewish community during the high holy days.

The religious festivities begin on the evening of September 12 with the Eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur and others and ends on October 5.

With strong Jewish communities in Prestwich and Whitefield, as well as elsewhere in the north of Manchester, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has been working closely with the Community Security Trust (CST) and has consulted with members of the Council of Jewish Synagogues and members of the communities themselves to provide a co-ordinated approach to the policing of this year's festivities.

There will be additional high visibility patrols before and after services at synagogues, covering the main pedestrian routes that the Jewish communities take from their homes. Joint patrols between the police and members of the Jewish CST, an organisation that provides reassurance and security advice to the Jewish community, will once again be a feature of the enhanced security precautions being taken to deter anti-Semitism and criminal activity during this period.

Chief Inspector Karan Lee said: "The high holy days are a combination of the most important religious festivals in the Jewish calendar. The aim of the operation is to give members of the Jewish community the opportunity to worship throughout the period of festivities in peace and safety across Greater Manchester.

"We recognise that this time of year generates a particular demand and an appropriate response is required to ensure that a quality service remains available to sections of the community. We are putting extra patrols in place to reassure the public and ensure that they have an adequate reporting facility available to them at all times.

"We have been working closely with the Community Security Trust and the Council of Jewish Synagogues to listen to their concerns and to provide a police response to them."

A mobile police station will be made available in the Higher Broughton area. The gatehouse at Sedgley Park Training College on Sedgley Park Road, Prestwich, will also be open in order to facilitate reporting.

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