Dyfed-Powys records 17 anti-Jewish crimes in 2025, up 42%

Wales has recorded a distinct increase in police-logged anti-Jewish crimes in the most recent annual cycle, according to figures released by Dyfed-Powys Police.

The force recorded 17 crimes classified as anti-Jewish during 2025, an increase of 42 percent from the 12 incidents logged in 2024. These figures cover only the Dyfed-Powys policing area and may not capture every antisemitic offense recorded under other crime categories.

National statistics from the Welsh policing system show 6,157 hate crimes recorded across the country between April 2025 and March 2026. Of those, 325 were motivated by religion, a decrease from 451 in the prior period. However, the national data does not break down the religious motivation by specific faith, making it difficult to isolate anti-Jewish incidents from the broader totals.

The Community Security Trust recorded 25 antisemitic incidents geographically associated with Wales in calendar year 2025. The breakdown included 13 in North Wales, 8 in South Wales, 2 in Dyfed-Powys, and 2 in Gwent. The discrepancy between the CST count and the police disclosure suggests that on-the-ground figures may exceed those formally reported to the trust.

The Jewish population in Wales stands at 2,044 people, representing approximately 0.07 percent of the total population of 3.1 million, according to the 2021 UK Census. Most residents live in Cardiff, which hosts a Reform and an Orthodox synagogue. A Chabad synagogue serves Llandudno, while smaller community groups exist in other cities.

Professor Nathan Abrams of Bangor University, who has lived in Wales for 20 years, told The Jerusalem Post that the small number of residents has not reduced hostility. He noted that for 15 centuries, Wales had no Jewish residents, and the fascination with Jews is inversely proportional to their numbers. Abrams recently published the book Jews in the Welsh Imagination: Medieval Times to the Present, which examines these historical attitudes.

Abrams described the current climate as a form of ambient antisemitism driven by social media and the Israel-Palestine conflict. He said this environment creates discomfort for Jews, even if physical harm is not frequent. He noted that much of the hostility comes from people who do not view themselves as antisemitic but repeat age-old tropes, particularly regarding the treatment of children in Gaza.

The South Wales Jewish Representative Council stated that the community is long-established and resilient but that the rise in antisemitism has left many people shaken. Representatives recently met with the Welsh Local Government Association to discuss the issue. They cited growing anxiety over routine verbal abuse, concerns for children in schools, and residents changing behavior to avoid identifying as Jewish in public.

Abrams linked the local dynamic to Welsh nationalist identity, noting that Plaid Cymru has long campaigned for Palestinian state recognition and critical of Israel. He observed that in the northwest of Wales, antisemitism is often expressed by older, middle-class individuals who view themselves as well-meaning but cross the line through repetition. He concluded that the complexity of Jewishness in Wales is frequently reduced to the Middle East conflict.