Stamford Hill is a predominantly Hasidic community. Pic: Alice Harrold

Hackney has the third highest rate of anti-Semitic crime of any London borough according to the Community Security Trust’s annual report. Islamophobic crime, though higher, in the rest of London, has not increased so sharply.

The data released last week showed that anti-Semitic crimes in Britain went up by 118 per cent last year compared to 2013. In 2014, 1,168 incidents were reported compared to 535 in 2013, half of which took place in London.

Of the 194 incidents reported in London 58 were reported in Hackney which is just under 30 per cent of the total anti-Semitic incidents reported in London during 2014.

Graph showing religious hate crimes. Pic: Hannah Boland

Overall last year, Islamophobic crimes reported to the Metropolitan Police in London increased by 11 per cent compared to 2013. While the rate of increase of anti-Semitic crimes is higher than Islamophobic crimes, the total figures of Islamophobic crimes are almost double the figures of anti-Semitic crimes according to Metropolitan Police statistics.

The Trust attributed this apparent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain last year mostly to the conflict in Israel and Gaza during July-August 2014, during which 103 of the total 194 incidents occurred. “Trigger events” such as this can cause temporary spikes in anti-Semitism, as was the case during the 2009 and 2006 Gaza wars.

Similarly the recent Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris by a militant Islamic group caused a noticeable increase in Islamophobia in Britain.

YouGov conducted an online survey of how Britons perceive Muslims in the UK, following the attack on Charlie Hebdo. Of the people surveyed, 61 per cent of Britons viewed Islam negatively and 25 per cent viewed it positively.