The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has reiterated that London stands united against racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism as he announced additional support for security training at mosques in the capital, following the scenes of violence and disorder across the country earlier this month.
The targeting of Muslims and minority ethnic communities has left many fearing for their safety and the Mayor has worked closely with the Met, partners and communities across the capital to ensure those in London are safe – and feel safe.
The Mayor has provided funding for four additional security training sessions in mosques across the capital, as he extends his work to support faith leaders across the capital, build community cohesion and tackle hate crime following the recent disorder.
Sadiq has also welcomed the reopening of the Government’s Mosque Security Scheme following his calls. The scheme is providing rapid security support for any buildings vulnerable to Hate Crime, boosting the work done by local police forces and building on the Government’s existing Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, with up to £29.4 million already to fund security at mosques and Muslim faith schools.
Faith Associates, who are leading experts in Mosque security, led the first of the four new sessions at Al Manaar to provide practical advice on how to keep congregations and premises safe. Representatives from the Met were also in attendance. The sessions will cover protective security and safety processes, as well as hate crime and online
safety and security. A Community Resilience Champions programme also runs in partnership with London Boroughs Faiths Network that provides practical support for faith leaders on how to keep their places of worship safe for staff, visitors and communities.
As disorder took place in some cities, the Mayor chaired a meeting with the Met Commissioner, London MPs and borough leaders on community cohesion and safety in the capital. He also visited Chelsea FC Foundation who deliver sessions and online workshops funded by City Hall that empower young Londoners to reject hate and give them the confidence to stand up to intolerance.
This followed the Met Police and London Resilience Unit bringing together partners across the capital to ensure they were working together at a time of heightened tensions, and the Met making it clear that anyone seeking to engage in disorder and sow division would face the full force of the law.
Throughout his time as Mayor, Sadiq has led from the front to ensure the Met takes a zero-tolerance approach to all hate crime. This Mayor has invested a record £14.8m in combatting hatred, intolerance and extremism in all its forms, providing support to grassroots community groups, This includes his £3.95m Shared Endeavour Fund which
is helping tens of thousands of Londoners to get involved in grassroots community-led projects across London that stand up to hate, intolerance, extremism and radicalisation wherever they are, as well as supporting the Community Alliance To Combat Hate (CATCH) partnership which supports victims of all forms of hate crime.