New Bus Route in London Launched to ‘Keep Jews Safe’ Amid Rising Antisemitism

In response to a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, London has introduced a new bus route aimed at helping Jewish residents feel safer as they travel through the city. The newly launched 310 bus service connects Stamford Hill in Hackney to Golders Green in Barnet, two neighborhoods with significant Jewish populations. The route will operate daily from 7 am to 7 pm, with buses running every 20 minutes.

The new service comes as the city faces a troubling increase in antisemitic hate crimes, particularly following the October 7 massacre in Israel by Hamas terrorists. The Metropolitan Police Service recorded over 2,000 antisemitic hate crimes between October and July, many of which occurred in areas with large Jewish populations like Barnet and Hackney.

Jewish Londoners, particularly those in visibly Orthodox communities, have been disproportionately targeted. Incidents reported by the Jewish neighborhood watch group, Shomrim, include physical assaults and verbal abuse. In one case, a Jewish man was attacked while walking on a sidewalk, and in another, a group of children were threatened with death by an assailant shouting antisemitic slurs.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasized the importance of the new bus route in helping Jewish residents travel with greater confidence. “Jewish Londoners have felt scared to leave their homes,” Khan told The Jewish Chronicle. “This direct bus link between these two significant communities means you can travel on the 310, not need to change, and be safe and feel safer.”

Khan expressed similar sentiments to BBC London, stating that many Jewish residents had reported feeling unsafe, especially when changing buses in certain areas. “We’ve heard stories about Jewish Londoners not leaving their homes … because they’re worried about their safety. I don’t want any Londoner to be scared to leave their home because they’re worried about public transport.”

The 310 route has been launched as a trial, with Transport for London collecting data to determine if it should become permanent. Jewish organizations, including the London Jewish Forum and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, have welcomed the initiative. According to the mayor’s office, the effort was introduced following 16 years of campaigning by Jewish groups for safer transport options.

The surge in antisemitic incidents in the UK following the events of October 7 has been alarming, with 2023 recording more antisemitic incidents than any previous year, according to the Community Security Trust. The increase continued throughout the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, making the safety of Jewish residents a top priority.

As London continues to grapple with the rise in hate crimes, the 310 bus route serves as a symbol of the city's commitment to ensuring that Jewish residents can move about freely and safely.

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