Trying to avoid violence (illustration)
Photo: AFP
London haredi community forms 'Jewish defense squad'
Special volunteer-based group provides protection, assistance to residents of Jewish neighborhoods. 'Sometimes we also have to act as psychologists,' says group coordinator
LONDON - Following discontent with the conduct of the local police forces, the residence of Stamford Hill, London's most haredi neighborhood, decided to form a Jewish defense squad dubbed "Hashomrim" (the guards), whose mission is to protect the residents of the Jewish neighborhoods. The group is composed of Jewish volunteers who wear jackets adorning the squad's logo.
Members of the squad say they try to avoid using violence. "Hitting is the last resort," said Goldstein, "if the thief is still there when we arrive, we will chase him away and follow him until the police arrives. Only in rare cases we are forced to use physical power to detain a suspect until the cops come."
"We provide protection and aid for the Jewish community," explained Shimi Goldstein, Hashomrim's coordinator. "When someone calls our hotline, we immediately respond and will be at the victim's house within 30 to 60 seconds, while the police will take a while longer." he said.
Targeted Violence
Associated Press
Seattle court finds Naveed Haq guilty of murder, attempted murder, unlawful imprisonment for 2006 shooting at city's Jewish center
The group includes 22 volunteers so far – all equipped with cars and radio devices. Another extension of the group recently opened in the neighborhood of Golders Green – known as the larges Jewish neighborhood in London.
According to the volunteers, not all calls are emergencies. "Sometimes," Goldstein said," we also have to act as psychologists. Today a woman called and told us that while walking her daughter to kindergarten, a non-Jewish person gave her a threatening stare and now she is scared to leave her house."
Goldstein remarked that some cases are not related to crime: "One incident involved a woman that reported her young son missing. I immediately went out to search for him and eventually found him wandering around the road and returned him to his mother."
Meanwhile, British police forces are not too happy about the new initiative. Police Commissioner of north-eastern London Steve Banding said he feels "great respect toward the religious Jews, but I don't support the idea of each community forming its own security squad, because other communities might feel threatened by a patrol that only serves a particular community.
"Another problem," Banding added, "is that the members of these squads are putting themselves in danger when they are faced with a situation that might escalate. In addition, there is a chance they might distort evidence by entering the crime scene; therefore jeopardizing the legal process that will bring the perpetrators to justice."
Despite the police's reserved stance, some at the city council supported the initiative. "The police doesn't always have the time. I am sure everyone will soon realize that this organization only contributes to society and to the reduction of crime," said council member Michael Levy.
