Dyfed-Powys records 42% jump in anti-Jewish crimes

Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 17 crimes classified as anti-Jewish in 2025. That figure represents a 42 percent increase from the 12 incidents logged in 2024.

The data comes from a Freedom of Information disclosure. It covers only the Dyfed-Powys policing area, not the entire nation of Wales. The numbers do not include all offenses, as some incidents may be recorded under different categories.

National police statistics for Wales between April 2025 and March 2026 show 6,157 hate crimes. Of these, 325 were motivated by religion. The figures do not specify which religion was targeted. This makes it impossible to determine the total number of anti-Jewish crimes across Wales from these official counts alone.

The Community Security Trust recorded 25 antisemitic incidents in Wales during calendar year 2025. Thirteen occurred in North Wales, eight in South Wales, two in Dyfed-Powys, and two in Gwent. The discrepancy between the CST data and the Dyfed-Powys police figures suggests on-the-ground reporting may differ from official police logs.

The 2021 UK Census counted 2,044 Jewish residents in Wales. This group represents 0.07 percent of the population, which stands at 3.1 million. Most live in Cardiff, home to two synagogues. A Chabad synagogue serves Llandudno, and smaller communities exist in other cities.

Professor Nathan Abrams of Bangor University recently published Jews in the Welsh Imagination. He argues that the small Jewish population fuels a persistent fascination. Abrams, who has lived in Wales for twenty years, states that the absence of Jews has not meant the absence of antisentiment.

The Welsh Local Government Association recently met with Jewish community representatives. They discussed growing anxiety, including verbal abuse and concerns about children in schools. The South Wales Jewish Representative Council said the rise in antisemitism has left many people shaken. The council noted the community is resilient but deeply rooted.

Abrams links much of the hostility in Wales to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He describes an environment where ambient antisemitism makes Jews uncomfortable being themselves. He notes that in northwestern Wales, where Plaid Cymru holds strong support, the focus on Palestine often drives the tension. Abrams observes that many people cross the line through repetition of historical tropes without realizing it.