Following the recent heavy fighting in Gaza, reprisal attacks and aggressive demonstrations spread against Jewish targets closer to home.

The UK attacks led to calls for greater safety around synagogues, kosher outlets and in densely populated Jewish areas.

Discussions have now increased between police, Barnet Council, and the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides physical security, training and advice on the protection of British Jews.

Mark Gardner, spokesman for CST, said there was already a strong community set up to cope with an increased threat of anti-Semitic aggressors. He said: “The hardware and resources are in place and the relationships that need to be present in times of crisis are there.

“British Jews have long been targeted, but at this time it is as if they are being targeted as local representatives of Israel.

“There has been a rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric and there is a relationship between that happening and attacks on Jews.”

He described graffiti, webpostings and chants at demonstrations as “dreadful”.

“This is the sort of thing we have seen before and it is of great concern to community leaders, the CST and British Jews,” he added.

“But it is wrong to depict the Jewish community as in trauma, or in hiding and we are determined to protect this society.

“The Jewish community has every right to make its feelings known at peaceful demonstrations, showing its support for Israel at this time, just as every other sector of society has a democratic right.”

The CST has issued safety precautions to residents and Jewish communal locations to make people aware of attempts by anti-Israel activists to gain access to targets. It also urged the community to check security systems and to immediately report all anti-Semitic incidents or suspicious activities.

Barnet Police have stepped up high-visibility patrols at Jewish events, schools and in areas around Golders Green and Temple Fortune to reassure residents.

A police spokesman said since hostilities broke out in Gaza at the end of December, there had been 12 anti-Semitic incidents in the borough, with Jewish premises suffering criminal damage.

He said the police had been working closely with the CST to gather intelligence and promote community safety messages and liaised with mosques and the borough’s multi-faith forum.

Superintendent Neil Seabridge, who is leading the borough’s response to the rise in anti-Semitic crime, condemned the latest swathe of attacks.

“People have a legitimate right to demonstrate for what they believe in, but when that becomes a front for anti-Semitism or criminal activity, it becomes totally unacceptable,” he said.

“We are taking this problem extremely seriously and are devoting significant resources towards investigating every allegation, as well as enhancing our preventative patrols.”

The borough of Barnet has the largest Jewish community in the country and council leader Mike Freer joined the condemnation of the attacks — admitting he was concerned by the increase.

He said: “I would like to assure all residents that the council is using every means at its disposal to prevent these actions occurring.

“The council has tasked officers from its community protection group to monitor tensions in the community, while other resources will be used directly to gather intelligence to be shared with the police.”

m Anyone with information on any criminal activity is asked to call the police on 0300 123 1212, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555111.