Anti-Semitic hate crimes double in UK

Posters for a Holocaust Memorial Day in east London were defaced this month. Credit: PA

Anti-Semitic attacks in Britain have doubled in a single year - reaching record levels of more than 1,000 for the first time.

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors anti-Semitism in the UK, recorded 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents across the country in 2014.

One of the incidents was classified as involving "extreme violence", meaning it involved potential grievous bodily harm or threat to life.

The victim was called a "Jewish c***" and then hit with a glass and a baseball bat in London.

Reactions to the dispute in the Gaza and Israel are said to be the biggest contributing factor to the attacks.

Home Secretary Theresa May described the latest figures as "deeply concerning", adding: "Britain without its Jews would not be Britain."

Watch ITV News Correspondent Dan Rivers' report:

The charity, which has logged anti-Semitic incidents in the UK since 1984, recorded the highest-ever monthly total of 314 in July and 228 in August.

In comparison, there were 59 incidents recorded in July 2013 and 48 in August 2013.

Last month, Mark Gardner, a spokesman at CST, said the number of calls they were receiving from Jewish people fearing a Paris-style terrorist attack in the UK had been ''unprecedented''.

Anti-Semitic incidents increased by 137% in Greater London and by 79% in Greater Manchester, and the CST also received reports of incidents in 89 different locations in the UK.

Last year there were 884 incidents of abusive behaviour, including verbal abuse, anti-Semitic graffiti, social media abuse and hate mail.

There were also 81 incidents of damage and desecreation of Jewish property.

The number of calls received from the Jewish community is 'unprecedented'. Credit: PA

CST chief executive David Delew said: "The Jewish community should not be defined by anti-Semitism but last year's large increase in recorded incidents shows just how easily anti-Semitic attitudes can erupt into race hate abuse, threats and attacks.

"Thankfully most of the incidents were not violent but they were still shocking and upsetting for those who suffered them, and for the wider Jewish community.

"CST will keep working with our community, police and politicians to find ways to reduce anti-Semitic hate crime and to better prosecute and convict those who carry it out."