Wales police record 42% increase in anti-Jewish crimes

Jewish residents of Wales face a rising number of recorded crimes despite a small population. Dyfed-Powys Police logged 17 offenses classified as anti-Jewish in 2025. This represents a 42% increase from the 12 incidents recorded in 2024. These figures apply to a specific policing area and do not cover the entire nation. They also exclude offenses logged under other categories.

The 2021 UK Census identified 2,044 people in Wales as Jewish by religion. This group represents approximately 0.07% of the total population of 3.1 million. Most live in Cardiff, which hosts two synagogues. A Chabad synagogue serves Llandudno, and smaller groups exist in other cities.

National policing data for Wales shows 6,157 hate crimes between April 2025 and March 2026. Of these, 325 were motivated by religion. However, the data does not specify which religion was targeted. The Community Security Trust separately recorded 25 antisemitic incidents in Wales during calendar year 2025. These included 13 in North Wales, 8 in South Wales, and 2 each in Dyfed-Powys and Gwent.

Professor Nathan Abrams of Bangor University noted that the small number of Jews in Wales has not reduced hostility. He stated that the fascination with Jews is inversely proportional to their numbers. Abrams has lived in Wales for 20 years and recently published a book on the nation's historical attitudes toward Jews. He described the current climate as "ambient antisemitism," where public displays create an environment where Jews feel uncomfortable.

Abrams linked much of the hostility to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He observed that the antisemitism often comes from well-meaning individuals who repeat historical tropes. He noted that Welsh nationalism plays a role, with many seeing parallels between their own history and that of Palestinians. This perspective is particularly strong in the northwest, which is highly nationalist and Welsh-speaking.

The Welsh Local Government Association met with Jewish community representatives to discuss the issue. Attendees reported growing anxiety about routine verbal abuse. They expressed concern about children in schools and people changing their behavior to avoid identifying as Jewish in public. The South Wales Jewish Representative Council described the community as resilient but shaken by recent events.

Plaid Cymru, a left-leaning nationalist party, maintains a critical stance toward Israel. The party leader called for harsh sanctions against the Israeli government in September 2025. Abrams said this political environment contributes to the local focus on the Middle East conflict. He concluded that the complexity of Jewishness in Wales is still reduced to this single issue.

The available statistics do not establish a precise national total for anti-Jewish crimes in Wales. The Dyfed-Powys figures and CST reports differ, suggesting on-the-ground numbers may exceed official records. The WLGA and community leaders continue to monitor the situation as they work to address the rising incidents.