New Chair Elected by Jewish Police Association

Mathew Shaer (Mat) transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service in 2003 after 10 years service with Thames Valley. Originally from East London, Mat now works as an Inspector on Westminster Borough in charge of Criminal Justice and Case Progression units. Prior to promotion Mat worked on the elite Met Murder Squad.

He was elected Chair of the JPA on 16th April 2008. He has a stated desire to, "Raise the profile of the JPA within the organisation and the wider community. Also, to ensure that members are given a quality level of support where required and to be an inclusive organisation where members can feel that they have something to gain by belonging, whether that be from support, networking or socialising."

He is particularly keen to attract new membership of Jewish police officers and civilian staff from other Forces in order that they may equally benefit from the support offered to members.

The JPA regularly engages in campaigns in order to recruit staff and officers from the Jewish community. They are, for example, currently supporting two members of the Orthodox community who have joined the Met as Police Officers.

Mat Lives is a member of Maidenhead Synagogue where Dr Jonathan Romain is Rabbi. Rabbi Romain is also one of the JPA's two Chaplain's.

Encounter Conference 2005 at Jewish Free School

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks (centre left) speaks with JPA members

The JPA attended Encounter 2005 at JFS on Sunday 11th December.

Representing the JPA were Danny Phillips, Peter Russell MBE, Anthony Woolfson, Steve Birley and Simeon Damdar.

Diversity will Beat Terrorism
By Alex Sholem

Rabbi Plancey, Sir Ian Blair and Rabbi Romain light the menorah.
Photo: Ben Domb

Britain's incoming top cop has spoken of the challenges facing the country in trying to tackle terrorism.

Addressing Jewish police officers and community leaders at the force's annual Chanukah party, Sir Ian Blair said London's religious diversity created an atmosphere of tolerance that would help combat extremists.

Blair, 51, who will become commissioner of the Met in the new year, said: "I think the police have to be optimistic. If we aren't, pessimism and cynicism set in. When I was informed of my appointment, I was full of a sense of challenge and joy in a way that seems like Chanukah to me."

He said the challenge was to face the realities of the twenty-first century, such as international terror, adding: "Sometimes the world seems like a dark place.

"But we're in a city defiant in the face of terrorism. We enjoy our own religious faith and respect everybody else's."

The event, organised by the Jewish police association, included a menorah-lighting ceremony led by JPA chaplains Rabbi Jonathan Romain and Rabbi Alan Plancey.

JPA secretary Danny Phillips said: "I think it's tremendous the JPA were able to celebrate Chanukah this year at New Scotland Yard with Sir Ian Blair. Sir Ian has shown great support for the JPA and it was wonderful he could find time in his busy schedule to come and celebrate with us."

Rabbi Plancey said: "Sir Ian Blair's not the commissioner yet, but already he feels part of the community. I hope it will be a genuine relationship."

Reproduced with kind permission of the "London Jewish News", December 17th 2004

Multi-ethnic Police a Force Against Terror
By Leon Symons

Light programme: Sir Ian Blair (left) with Jewish Police Association secretary Danny Phillips
Photo: Tabatha Fireman

Metropolitan Police Commissioner-elect Sir Ian Blair has told Jewish officers that ethnic minorities working together in the force will help defeat the forces of violence.

Addressing the Jewish Police Association Chanucah party at Scotland Yard, he voiced "great respect" for the JPA founders.

Commenting on his own new role, he said: "The challenge is the extraordinarily difficult world we inhabit in the 21st century. The joy is the diversity in this city, celebrating Chanucah with the JPA, Diwali with Hindus and with Christmas just coming up. The city is transforming itself before our eyes with all the world's great religions represented. It is a city that is defiant against the idea of terrorism because it is comfortable with itself."

JPA chaplain Rabbi Alan Plancey welcomed Sir Ian, who lit one of the candles. Another chaplain, Rabbi Jonathan Romain, explained the festival's significance to an audience including representatives of other Met police groups.

Crime-prevention officer and JPA chair Jo Poole said afterwards that the association wanted sponsors, in order to expand its work at exhibitions and events with the aim fo encouraging futher Jewish recruitment.

Reproduced with kind permission of the "Jewish Chronicle", December 17th 2004

Sir Ian Joins Jewish Police Celebration

Jewish Police Association members celebrated the festival of Chanukah (Festival of light) at New Scotland Yard. Deputy Commissioner Sir Ian Blair was among the guests and lit a candle on the menorah (candelabra, above). Rabbis Alan Plancey, of Borehamwood Synagogue, and Jonathan Romain, of Maidenhead Synagogue, were also there.

Jewish Police Association secretary Danny Phillips said it was a good evening with attendees from diverse groups including Christian, Muslims and Hindu police associations.

He said: "It went very well. We had traditional klezmer music and some group dancing where the audience took part."

The festival of Chanukah starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which falls in November or December of the western calendar, and lasts for eight days.

On the first day one candle on the menorah is lit, and evey day an extra candle is lit until they are all alight on the eighth day.

Reproduced with kind permission of "The Job", December 17th 2004

JPA Attendance at 2004 Events

The JPA participated as exhibitors at two of the largest public Jewish events of the Year. Go Israel took place at Alexandra Palace, and Encounter 2004 was at Wembley Conference. Both events were very well attended.

The Met and CST join forces: Leaflet explains how to report anti-Semitic crime
By Leon Symons

Blue lines: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, with PC Danny Phillips
Photo: John Rifkin

The first joint venture by the Community Security Trust and the Metropolitan Police is a step-by-step guide on how to report anti-Semitic crime.

The leaflet, illustrated by a wall daubed by swastikas and the works “die scum” and “C18” folds down into the size of a credit card. It contains information needed by a victim of an anti-Semitic incident, or anyone who received anti-Semitic literature, abusive or threatening phone calls, is affected by anti-Semitic graffiti, or sport a suspicious object. It was funded by the Met, designed by the CST and will be distributed by the Union of Jewish Students.

The leaflet states “report it to the police. Call the Community Security Trust. Note details of the incident. Preserve as much evidence as possible. Always call 999 in an emergency”. It carries the telephone number for CST offices in London and Manchester and emergency 24-hours pager numbers.

The leaflet was launched officially at the Jewish Police Association Chanukah celebration last week attended by Met Police commissioner Sir John Stevens and other senior police officers and communal figures.

Commissioner Stevens, replying to a tribute from JPA chaplain Rabbi Alan Plancey, said the Jewish people were “the most persecuted the world has ever seen” but that “this was the way forward, communities being part and parcel of London and the United Kingdom”.

JPA secretary PC Danny Phillips said, “Anti-Semitic crime continues to post problems for many within our community and the Metropolitan Police wants to encourage more victims to report such incidents.

“The JPA has worked closely with the CST and the Met to produce a leaflet to encourage people to report incidents of anti-Semitic crime. While we hope all sections of the community will benefit, we particularly want to target Jewish students who might feel vulnerable on campuses. It will be distributed initially by the Union of Jewish Students.”

Later, Mr. Phillips added, “We are aware that there is under-reporting of anti-Semitic and racist crime. What is needed is a method of making people aware of how they can communicate with the police and know that they would be listened to.”

A CST spokesman said “The leaflet will go out to students first and then be distributed to the wider community.”

Reproduced with kind permission of the "Jewish Chronicle", December 23rd 2003

Stevens: Jews Most Persecuted
By Justin Cohen

Sir John Stevens (left) with PC Danny Phillips
Photo: S Burns

The Jewish people are the most persecuted community in history, according to London’s top cop.

The dramatic claim came during Sir John Stevens’ address to the Jewish Police Association’s Chanukah party yesterday, in which he also reiterated the importance of the Community Security Trust’s work.

“The Jewish community has been the most persecuted community the world has ever seen,” he told the audience of more than 50 community leaders at Scotland Yard.

Monday’s event also saw the launch of the latest weapon in the fight against campus anti-Semitism with the introduction of a new leaflet to encourage the reporting of crime against the community.

A joint initiative by the JPA and the CST, and funded solely by the Metropolitan police, more than 10,000 of the pocket-sized leaflets will be distributed to students and other vulnerable groups who are currently less likely to report anti-Semitic incidents.

Featuring images of a building daubed with swastikas, it offers contact information for reporting suspicious person or objects or in the event of anti-semitic literature or threatening phone calls being received.

JPA chairman Jo Poole told TJ: “People who are currently unaware of the Community Security Trust’s work or are not affiliated to a synagogue will now be aware of what to do if they are victims of anti-Semitism.”

Distribution of the leaflet across the country will be led by the Union of Jewish Students, while Maccabi and AJEX are also expected to be involved.

Mark Ross, UJS chair, said: “It is a great pleasure to be involved in promoting awareness of anti-Semitic activity so that both the Jewish and non-Jewish have a better understanding of the realities of life on campus.”

Earlier, the Met Commissioner lit the first candle on a special menora.

Reproduced with kind permission of the "London Jewish News", December 23rd 2003

JPA attend Zionist Federation's Israel Expo at The Design Centre

Member of the public visiting the JPA stand at the Israel Expo, with PC Paul Vogler (right foreground)
Photo: Jewish Chronicle

Reproduced with kind permission of the "Jewish Chronicle", December 14th 2003

The Jewish Police Association
By Miriam Rich

If a Jewish Police Association sounds to you like a contradiction in terms, read on - you might have missed the shidduch at New Scotland Yard.

Few of us could have predicted, almost a decade ago, that the racist murder of a promising young black teenager in Eltham would hold any significance for the Jewish community. Yet, as continued hostility towards Israel translates into a growing acceptance of anti-Semitism and an increase in incidents against our community, the link becomes clearer.

Victims or witnesses of anti-Semitic incidents – and thankfully it remains small minority of us – might be astonished to learn that the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry has had a direct impact on the police response to our community. Some of us may still be under the illusion that only Black, Asian and other ‘visible’ ethnic minorities have benefited from the sea change in the police service.

Initially of course, shell-shocked after Sir William Macpherson’s accusation of institutional racism, the Metropolitan Police Service did quite properly seek to overhaul its relationship with the black community. Long perceived as racist, discriminatory and overwhelmingly white, this was to be no easy task. Despite enormous progress, that overhaul remains a priority within the Service.

A new Diversity Directorate set up within the Met by (recently retired) Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieve was the basis for a large number of new initiatives: community and race relations training for all officers; community safety units on every borough, staffed by officers specially trained to deal with racist offences; independent advisors from community groups working with investigative teams to oversee operations and processes (a step which ten years ago would have been unthinkable); an intelligence cell devoted to analysis of racist incidents; third party reporting sites for those who – for whatever reason – do not want direct contact with the police when reporting an incident; a specialist ethnic minority recruitment team; the list continues – and, slowly, it seemed to be working.

After a while, it became clear that what works for the policing of the Black and Asian community could and should work for other communities. Because community relations, often berated as the ‘pink and fluffy’ end of policing, is actually critical to fighting crime.

Imagine: you’re an observant Jew in the wrong place at the wrong time. You witness a robbery and give your name to the police, hoping you won’t be needed. The next day your doorbell rings just as Birchat Hamazon gets underway. Officers enter accompanied by suspect sandwich packages. You make time for them, but ham and tomato shortly emerge.

Alternative scenario: a couple of police officers turn up on your doorstep on a Saturday. They notice the mezuzah. Avoiding the doorbell, they knock and apologise for disturbing you on Shabbat, but they need to take some details.

Would this improve your response to them? Could this response improve their chances of a successful investigation? You get the picture.

In more serious situations involving police family liaison officers, who may need to spend a lot of time with you to progress the investigation, wouldn’t there be enough to worry about without having to overcome the ‘non-Jew in a Jewish home’ barrier? Wouldn’t it be helpful if they already understood kashrut? Why the funeral has to take place as soon as possible? Why a post-mortem would be so traumatic, even if you understood that it was necessary?

Of course, hopefully you’ll never have to deal such situations - but the growing realisation is that the police can’t ignore them. If the police understand your culture, your traditions, your lifestyle – irrespective of your level of observance – wouldn’t you be more likely to want to help them? To come forward as a witness, stand up as a juror, allow them to use your home as an observation point? To really believe your help could make a difference?

Long before the Jewish Police Association was set up, the Community Security Trust was already meeting with the police to address concerns and promote a co-ordinated response to anti-Semitic incidents. The CST works on the basis that no-one protects the community like the community protects itself. The police work on the basis that a community protecting itself – in a law-abiding, professional way - is a valued aid to an overstretched police service.

The Black Police Association was set up in 1993. The Jewish Police Association was set up in 2001. In between the two, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and other Associations have come into existence and all are supported by the Metropolitan Police Service. Incidentally, we received the largest measure of support during our nascent days from the Muslim Police Association, which went out of its way to help set up the JPA.

The aims of the Jewish Police Association are as follows: to provide a network for support and advice to Jewish police personnel; to promote understanding of the Jewish faith within the police service; and to act as a resource reference for the police regarding religious and cultural issues, and in particular those affecting front-line policing.

The latter aim is particularly important, and it was the need for such a resource which lead to the birth of the JPA. Jo Poole, a PC at West End Central and founder of the Association, was contacted by a colleague who, for the purposes of his investigation, needed some information about Judaism. She was the only Jewish police officer he knew.

Our aims do not include lobbying for kosher food in police canteens, nor for personnel to avoid Shabbat shifts. Nor are we on a mission to ‘root out’ anti-Semites, although in an organisation of more than 45,000 people it would be naïve to suggest that there are none, and that no-one has ever suffered from it. But if a corner needs fighting, an investigation needs advising, a community needs reassurance – we’ll be there.

The Jewish Police Association does not claim to represent the views of all Jewish staff within the Metropolitan Police Service. Indeed, at the inaugural meeting some of our number spoke out against the existence of such a body: why draw attention to ourselves, provoke resentment, put our heads above the parapet? To most of us the answer was clear: because we could only contribute to the changes already made. Thanks to Doreen and Neville Lawrence, the revolution had long since begun.

Also printed in "London Jewish News", Friday July 12th 2002

Commissioner salutes launch of Jewish Police Association
By Lucy Canning

Promoting understanding: PC Jo Poole, Peter Russell and PC Danny Phillips of the Jewish Police Association

The Commissioner expressed his wholehearted support for the newly formed MPS Jewish Police Association - the first in the British Police Service - when he met with members.

The aim of this non-political organisation is to offer support and advice to Jewish staff and to promote understanding of the Jewish faith.

It will act as a source of advice on religious and cultural issues, in particular those that affect frontline policing. Details of the organisation are on the Met Intranet site.

The Met enjoys a positive relationship with the Jewish community and the Jewish Police Association will further this bond. The organisation was founded last August by PC Jo Poole and advertised first in The Job. PC Poole said: "This Association has already attracted more than 60 members and is currently finalizing a constitution."

The Commissioner met PC Poole, from West End Central Police station, Peter Russell, a retired special constable and civil staff member in Hampstead and Miriam Rich from the Directorate of Public Affairs.

PC Poole said she was "overwhelmed" by the support shown by the Commissioner and everyone else involved, particularly the invaluable advice and help she received from Mohammed Mahroof of the Muslim Police Association.

Reproduced with kind permission of "The Job", Friday January 18th 2002

Met Commissioner lobbies for more Jewish bobbies
By Leon Symons

Arresting sight: Sir John Stevens (left) with PC Jo Poole and Peter Russell
Photo: Sidney Harris

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens has issued a personal appeal for more Jews to join the force and its civil staff.

After a meeting with representatives of the Met's nascent Jewish Police Association, Sir John voiced "delight" at its establishment. "The Met enjoys a very positive relationship with the Jewish community, and the Jewish Police Association will be integral to that. This will be a valuable addition," he told the JC.

"I would particularly like to attract more Jewish police officers and civil staff to the service, and look forward to working with the association to achieve that."

Sir John met WPC Jo Poole, attached to the West End Central station; Peter Russell, a retired special constable and civil staff member in Hampstead; and Miriam Rich, who works in the department of public affairs at New Scotland Yard.

Founded in August by WPC Poole, the association has already attracted some 60 members and is in the process of forming a constitution. It is the first Jewish association within a British police force.

WPC Poole described the meeting with Sir John as "excellent. The commissioner was extremely positive and supportive of our efforts. He wanted the association to forge close links with the Chief Rabbi's office and talked about the strong links that already exist between the Met and Jewish communal organisations.

"There is now funding for staff associations in the Met and he wanted to make sure we had enough resources. We also discussed greater flexibility in the serve to allow for religious observance."

Pledging to keep in close contact with the organisation, Sir John suggested a further meeting in the near future.

Meanwhile, the association will convene shortly to elect an executive committee.

Reproduced with kind permission of the "Jewish Chronicle", Friday December 28th 2001