Thames Valley Police Deploys Extra Synagogue Patrols, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• Jewish holiday patrols for Thames Valley Police will be stepped up at synagogues and neighbouring community areas over the Jewish High Holy Days.
• Thames Valley Police said that the operation will comprise visible community patrols, armed and unarmed officers, specialized assets, and Project Servator operations.
• Operation is being run by Assistant Chief Constable Christian Bunt with the support of Community Security Trust.
• It is said that it is an intelligence-driven operation and the purpose is to safeguard Jewish communities, prevent criminality and provide immediate response to any incident.
• This will take place during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
• Funding has been provided for this enhanced policing through Home Office and Protecting Jewish Communities fund.
• Thames Valley Police has requested people to report any suspicious or criminal activity by calling 999; reports other than emergency can be provided by calling 101, through police stations, officers, or on their website.

 Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 7, 2026 – The force said it would increase activity around synagogues and surrounding areas as Jewish communities prepare to mark a sequence of major religious observances, beginning with Rosh Hashanah on September 11. The increased policing will continue across Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, according to Thames Valley Police and local reports.

Thames Valley Police Jewish holiday patrols will be stepped up around synagogues and Jewish community locations during the forthcoming High Holy Days, with armed and unarmed officers, specialist teams and visible patrols forming part of a dedicated security operation. The force says the intelligence-led measures are intended to protect worshippers and community sites, deter crime and enable a rapid response to any incidents.

The BBC reported that Thames Valley Police described the dedicated operation as being designed to protect Jewish communities. The force’s announcement came as it outlined a security presence that will be visible at places of worship and other community locations during the holiday period.

Why are police increasing patrols?

Thames Valley Police said its plan responds to safety concerns within Jewish communities ahead of the High Holy Days, against a wider backdrop of reported increases in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023.

As reported by Milton Keynes Citizen, Assistant Chief Constable Christian Bunt, who is leading the operation, said:

“We recognise our Jewish communities will be concerned for their safety ahead of the High Holy Days following recent attacks and the general rise in antisemitism.”

Mr Bunt said the force had created a dedicated operation in partnership with the Community Security Trust, known as CST, which provides security advice and support to Jewish communities. He said people should expect to see more officers near synagogues and in nearby areas throughout the religious period.

The force has not detailed all its security arrangements publicly. Mr Bunt said some measures would not be visible, alongside the patrols and engagement activity taking place in public.

What will the operation include?

Thames Valley Police said neighbourhood policing teams and armed officers would conduct high-visibility patrols around synagogues and surrounding locations. The operation will also use specialist resources and Project Servator deployments, according to the Bracknell News.

Project Servator is a policing approach that uses overt and unpredictable deployments to deter and detect criminal activity. In this operation, its use will sit alongside traditional neighbourhood patrols, armed policing, specialist support and direct engagement with local communities.

As reported by the Bracknell News, Mr Bunt said:

“There will be armed and unarmed officers on patrol, support from specialist units, and engagement staff speaking with our communities, alongside our partners, as well as security measures people will not see.”

Police said the operation would focus on three connected objectives: maintaining a visible presence, engaging with community members and protecting places of worship and community sites. It will be intelligence-led, meaning policing activity can be directed in response to information and assessed risks.

Which holidays are covered?

The heightened operation begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which is due to start on September 11. The force will also deploy additional resources during Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah events.

These observances bring worshippers together at synagogues and community venues across the region. The force said its approach is intended to support people attending services and events while ensuring that officers can respond quickly if a concern is reported.

The policing operation covers the broader High Holy Days period rather than being limited to a single event. Thames Valley Police said increased activity would be seen in and around synagogues and other relevant local areas.

What has Thames Valley Police said?

Thames Valley Police has stated that the operation is intended to protect Jewish communities, deter criminality and ensure a swift response to any incident. The force said patrols will be combined with engagement staff working with communities and partner organisations.

As reported by Milton Keynes Citizen, Mr Bunt said: “We have a dedicated operation to protect our Jewish communities, alongside the Community Security Trust, throughout the period so people can expect to see an increased police presence near synagogues and the local areas during this period.”

The announcement does not set out a specific incident that triggered the operation. Instead, the force framed it as a protective measure for a period in which Jewish communities will gather for significant religious observances and may have heightened safety concerns.

The BBC’s report similarly described the programme as a dedicated operation designed for the protection of Jewish communities.

How is the operation funded?

The additional security measures are supported by Home Office funding, Thames Valley Police said. The Bracknell News reported that the support comes through the Protecting Jewish Communities Fund.

The funding is being used alongside coordination with CST, police said. The partnership will support protective activity during the period, including engagement with Jewish communities and security arrangements at relevant locations.

Thames Valley Police has not provided a public breakdown of the funding amount, the number of officers involved or the individual sites covered. The force has said, however, that its plans include resources which will not necessarily be publicly visible.

What should the public do?

Thames Valley Police said anyone who witnesses suspicious or criminal activity should call 999. The advice applies where immediate police attendance is required or an emergency is taking place.

For non-urgent matters, people can approach an officer, visit a police station, call 101 or use the Thames Valley Police website, according to the force’s guidance reported by the Bracknell News.

People can also contact CST’s national emergency number on 0800 032 3263, the report said. Police have presented reporting routes as part of the broader effort to identify and respond to concerns affecting Jewish communities during the High Holy Days.

Background: Why are High Holy Days security plans important?

The Jewish High Holy Days are among the most significant periods in the Jewish religious calendar and involve increased attendance at synagogue services and community gatherings. Thames Valley Police said it was increasing protection in recognition of the concerns felt by Jewish communities following recent attacks and a wider rise in antisemitism.

The Bracknell News reported that antisemitic incidents had risen internationally since 7 October 2023, and referred to fatal attacks last year at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur and at a Chanukah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia.

In Thames Valley, the police operation combines visible patrols with armed and specialist capacity, community engagement and less visible security arrangements. The stated purpose is preventive: protecting people and locations, discouraging criminal activity and ensuring a prompt police response if needed.

Prediction: How could this affect Jewish communities?

For Jewish residents, worshippers and visitors in the Thames Valley area, the increased police presence is likely to make security arrangements more noticeable around synagogues and during major holiday events. People attending services may encounter uniformed neighbourhood officers, armed officers, Project Servator deployments and staff engaging with the community.

The operation may also increase reporting of concerns by making police and CST contact routes more visible during the holiday period. Thames Valley Police says the model is designed to support community confidence while allowing security resources to be directed according to intelligence and assessed risk.

For the wider public, the principal effect is likely to be a more visible policing presence around Jewish places of worship and community sites during the observances. The force has asked anyone who sees suspicious or criminal activity to report it through the appropriate emergency or non-emergency channels.