Jewish residents in Bury were victims of almost 50 hate crimes last year

A study by the Community Security Trust has found that they suffered physical and verbal abuse, hate mail and vandal attacks.

The Trust, a charity that protects British Jews from anti-Semitism and related threats, analysed data from Greater Manchester Police and other forces.

More than a quarter of Greater Manchester's 205 anti-Semitic incidents took place in Bury.

The borough is home to large Jewish populations in Prestwich and Whitefield and registered 48 hate crimes.

Dave Rich, the trust’s deputy director of communications and the principal author of the Anti-Semitic Incidents 2016 Report, said: “We get all types but in Bury we see a lot of verbal abuse of the streets and things being thrown at people who look Jewish, because of their religious clothing or some other reason.

"You can call it anti-social behaviour with anti-Semitism added on."

He said over the last year or two the trust had noticed offenders becoming more brazen and confidence in expressing their hatred and their outbursts due to a combination of social media and wider political developments.

Some of the offences are strangers approaching victims in public and making an expletive-ridden slur or comment.

One in five offences nationally now involves social media where those responsible can choose to hide behind anonymity and broadcast their thoughts into the open without addressing anyone in particular.

Mr Rich said the trust had worked with Bury police with restorative justice cases that have had a positive effect for victims because they came out feeling safer and more confident.

He added: "Most hate crime doesn't get reported to anyone.

"Unfortunately a lot of people feel that if the crime involves something like verbal abuse, something 'minor', nothing will be done and that's not the case: the police have shown they will investigate.

"Unfortunately I think some people do experience anti-Semitism to the extent it becomes part of normal life — and it shouldn't be a part of everyday life.

"It's important for people like ourselves and the police to make it very clear to both victims and offenders it's not acceptable."

In 2016, the trust recorded seven incidents of assault, three threats and 38 instances of abusive behaviour in Bury.

In comparison, in the borough in 2015 there were four assaults, two damage and desecration incidents, two threats, 36 instances of abusive behaviour and one anti-Semitic piece of literature.