Police and Crime Commissioner calls for reflection following Manchester incident

I am deeply saddened by the horrific incident that took place outside a synagogue in Manchester this morning.

This act of violence is especially distressing as it occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

It’s understandably a frightening time for Jewish communities across the UK who will obviously be feeling vulnerable and fearing for their safety.

This is a time for reflection and not reaction.

We need to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this incident and whether this could have been avoided.

We also need to support communities through this process.

If the suspect was known to agencies, the robustness of validity of the PREVENT programme needs to be reviewed to determine whether it’s fit for purpose.

I would urge people to remain vigilant. Please report anything that doesn’t feel right to police and be alert to what is happening in your community.