(Photo courtesy of the Home Office)

Hamed Chapman

As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, the Government has announced additional funding of £800,000 to provide security measures and equipment for vulnerable places of worship.

A £2.4 million funding scheme was launched after the terrorist attack outside Finsbury Park Mosque in 2016 towards cover for churches, gurdwaras, temples and mosques. They were asked to bid under the scheme. Grants have been awarded from the new allocation to nine churches, 22 mosques, two Hindu temples and 12 Sikh gurdwaras.

The scheme excludes synagogues which is dealt with by a much more lucrative Government commitment through a grant administered by the Community Security Trust.

In March the government pledged a further £13.4 million to ensure the security of Jewish faith schools, synagogues and communal buildings, bringing the total to over £38.5 million of dedicated funding since 2015.

In the latest announcement, over £1.5 million of further funding was also specified for groups such as the Anne Frank Trust and Kick It Out which support young people to challenge prejudice and hatred.

“Hate crime goes directly against the long-standing British values of unity, tolerance and mutual respect – and I am committed to stamping this sickening behaviour out,” Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, said. “Our refreshed action plan sets out how we will tackle the root causes of prejudice and racism, support hate crime victims and ensure offenders face the full force of the law.”