Statement by Paul Morron, President, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council

Our safety means no room for complacency

By Paul Morron, President, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council  Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday is the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.  Who could have imagined that 70 years on we would see the targeted murder of Jews - merely because they are Jews - in a kosher supermarket in Paris, the Jewish Museum in Brussels (last year) and a Jewish school in Toulouse (three years ago)?  Open antisemitism in mainland Europe is back and, though we have suffered a record level of antisemitic incidents in the last six months here at home, these have principally been social media or telephone call abuse.  Minor in comparison with Europe, but wholly unacceptable and disturbing all the same.  Gratifyingly, the Police Scotland clear-up rate of these and related offences has been high, at more than 70 per cent.  Last week the security level for the Jewish community in the UK was raised to the second highest level.  What are we to make of this?  We have a close relationship with Police Scotland at Giffnock, Glasgow Divisional and national Scottish level.  The Jewish community and the CST have regular and comprehensive meetings with Police Scotland, who are highly sensitised to our needs and concerns.  And the police are particularly aware of providing support, visible and otherwise, to Calderwood Lodge Primary School.  We have received a special and full briefing on the security upgrade and the community should be re-assured.  Police intelligence indicates there is no sign of any current risk to our community. But they remain vigilant, as must we.  The security upgrade is precautionary in nature, safety first.  It is designed, for example, to reduce any possibility, however remote, of individualised copycat incidents on the back of Paris.  So if you see increased police presence round Jewish buildings, community events or synagogue services, its purpose is clear - to provide visible re-assurance to the community and to be seen by others.  Be sure there other police measures in force, though they will mainly be less visible to the community.  However, there is no room for complacency. As a matter of expedience, both communal organisations and individual members of the community need to be more alert and security conscious.  If you see anything that concerns you or anything suspicious, please report it to the police or CST or, if you prefer, report it to the Rep Council office (mornings only).  But there is also good news. Our many Christian friends at individual, church and organisational level have made their friendship and support known to us.  And our recent dialogue and joint work with the Muslim community, especially the leadership of the Glasgow Central Mosque, continues to blossom and their support also is open and appreciated.  We are a longstanding, confident and responsible community. There is no reason why we should not continue our normal routines and participate in community activity and every reason why we should.  Let us remember Auschwitz - but let us work for, and prosper in, the future.