Welsh police data shows rise in anti-Jewish crimes despite small Jewish population

A Freedom of Information request to Dyfed-Powys Police reveals a sharp increase in recorded anti-Jewish offenses in the region. The force logged 17 such crimes in 2025, a rise of approximately 42% from the 12 recorded in 2024. These figures cover only the Dyfed-Powys area and do not necessarily capture all incidents recorded under different categories.

The data highlights a disconnect between the demographic presence of Jews in Wales and the volume of hostility they face. The 2021 UK Census counted 2,044 Jews in Wales, roughly 0.07% of the 3.1 million residents. Most live in Cardiff, which hosts Reform and Orthodox synagogues. A Chabad synagogue serves Llandudno, while smaller groups operate in other cities.

Professor Nathan Abrams of Bangor University argues that the small population has not dulled Welsh attitudes toward Jews. In his new book, Jews in the Welsh Imagination, he notes that Welsh fascination with Jews is inversely proportional to their numbers. He told The Jerusalem Post that the absence of a large community has not meant an absence of antisemitism. Instead, he described a persistent cultural fixation that has persisted for 15 centuries.

National policing statistics for Wales between April 2025 and March 2026 recorded 6,157 hate crimes. Of these, 325 were motivated by religion, down from 451 in the previous period. However, the police data does not specify which religion was targeted. The Community Security Trust separately recorded 25 antisemitic incidents in Wales in 2025. These included 13 in North Wales, 8 in South Wales, and two each in Dyfed-Powys and Gwent.

The discrepancy between police records and the Community Security Trust suggests on-the-ground incidents may exceed reported totals. The Welsh Local Government Association recently met with Jewish representatives to discuss the issue. Community members cited growing anxiety, routine verbal abuse, and concerns for children in schools. Some reported changing their behavior to avoid identifying as Jewish in public spaces.

Abrams attributes much of the tension to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the political stance of Plaid Cymru, a left-leaning nationalist party. The party has long supported Palestinian statehood and recently called for harsh sanctions against Israel. Abrams says this creates an environment of ambient antisemitism. He describes it as a hostile atmosphere created by demonstrations and public displays, rather than direct physical violence.

He notes that much of this hostility comes from middle-class, well-meaning individuals who repeat historical tropes without realizing it. Abrams observes that working-class residents often view the demonstrators with suspicion. He concludes that Welsh society, particularly outside major cities, often directs its political identity toward Palestine, which he argues reduces the complexity of Jewish identity to the Middle East conflict.