Barnet Council is preparing to expand its community safety efforts.
This follows the Government’s announcement in May of an additional £500,000 in funding to tackle antisemitism and promote social cohesion over the next two years.
The additional funding will support a two-year programme focused on education, community engagement, and improved monitoring of community tensions.
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Cllr Sara Conway, cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: "The last few months have been extremely difficult for many local communities in the borough, and I welcome the progress being made across the police and council teams responsible for community safety and building cohesion in Barnet.
"We have worked extensively to ensure residents voices are heard locally and nationally. Barnet is fortunate to be a borough where people generally get on well with their neighbours and where hatred and division have never had the foundations to grow."
Plans include an education action plan for schools to counter hate and extremism, the development of community leadership programmes, and continued work on the council’s Connecting Communities campaign. The programme is designed to promote resilience, allyship, and improved access to community resources.
Two new council officers will be recruited to help deliver the programme. One will join the community safety team, while the other will work in the communities team.
Targeted workshops will take place with both Jewish and Muslim community leaders, alongside broader public engagement. Adverts for the new council roles are being released this month.
This will be at the same time as Metropolitan Police partners launch their new Community Protection Team – which will see many extra police officers assigned to the borough and a new community hub based in Golders Green.
Cllr Conway said: "In recent months we have seen external factors trying to increase community tensions and bring violence and terror to our borough.
"Tackling this is a key priority for this council and we recognise and are thankful for our police and fire partners and the many organisations and residents across the borough who are committed to meeting this challenge together. We look forward to seeing further progress over the coming months, informed by ongoing and deeper relationships with all of our communities."
The council is also partnering with the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion’s National Conversation. This UK-wide project invites residents to share their views on what makes a good community.
Feedback from Barnet will help shape the council’s ongoing work on cohesion.
