ONE of Warrington’s MPs says her ‘heart broke' after seeing the scale of police protection needed at her place of worship.

Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols visited her local synagogue over the weekend and noted 20 officers and multiple police vans were stationed outside.

During a debate in the House of Commons on antisemitism in the UK on Monday, the Labour MP called for more work at grassroots level to bring communities together.

She also referenced the ongoing conflict in the Middle East she says is ‘radicalising people against British Jews’.

Ms Nichols told the chamber: “This weekend, my heart broke to see some 20 officers and multiple police vans stationed outside my synagogue, and that this was deemed necessary for our protection.

“The conflict in the Middle East is being used to radicalise people against British Jews online, in our schools and universities, and on our streets.

“Additional security funding is welcome, as is the funding for education settings, but what financial support and resource will be provided to local authorities for projects working across our faith and community settings at a local grassroots level to bring communities together, rather than allow them to be driven further apart?

In response, Chris Philp, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire said: “The honourable member is right to say that grassroots work is needed.

“The £7million I referred to earlier is part of that, and organisations such as the Community Security Trust, which the Government substantially fund or provide with quite a lot of money—£18 million a year—do good work in this area as well.

“I echo her sentiment and that of others: there is no excuse, no reason and no possible justification for targeting Jewish people in this country, and the full force of the law must come down on anyone who does so.”

The Conservative minister previously told the Commons that extra money for the Community Security Trust will apply in the current financial year.

This will be a £3million increase to £18million in total. It will also apply next year, in the financial year 2024-25, and it will be kept under review thereafter.