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One of the individuals injured during Thursday's violent incident at a Jewish place of worship in Manchester was working with the CST, an organization praised for averting an more severe atrocity.

Recognizable Sight of Helpers

The sight of volunteers in the charity's hi-vis bibes has become a familiar sight at Jewish synagogues, educational institutions, and other locations in recent years.

Over many years, the group has also shaped public policy by tracking and combating antisemitism, while additionally addressing hostility against other groups.

Rising Antisemitic Offenses

In the two years since the October 7th, 2023 violence in Israel and the start of the conflict in Gaza, the charity's personnel has grown by about a third against the backdrop of a rise in antisemitic offenses.

According to government figures, there were 3,282 faith-based offenses aimed at individuals of Jewish faith in the 12 months ending March 2024, up from around 1,500 in the previous year.

Separate data from the CST, derived from the number of antisemitic incidents notified to the charity, recorded 1,521 such occurrences across the UK in the first half of the current year.

Graph shows average number of hate crimes recorded per 10,000 people, grouped by the perceived religion of the victim.

Longstanding Recording and Preparation

While it became non-profit organization in 1994, the CST and its forerunners have been documenting and publishing anti-Jewish event data in the UK since 1984.

Currently, its operations involve more than 100 employees and 2,000 dedicated helpers who receive comprehensive training in everything from first aid to performing security duties.

While its volunteers have been injured in the past, the severe injuries to one of its personnel in Manchester is believed to be the most serious yet.

Leadership Response and Security Measures

"Our thoughts are for his continuing recovery and salute the bravery of all those who helped stop the attacker from entering the synagogue," said the organization's top leader.

The CST presence at sites often comprises a mixture of its internal helpers, such as trained congregants, as well as private security guards.

As a recipient of financial support from the government, the trust distributes an £18m government grant that covers commercial security guards.

These were deployed last year at locations encompassing two hundred childcare centers, two hundred sixty Jewish temples, and fifty high-profile communal buildings.

The CST itself relies on contributions.

Wider Initiatives and Partnerships

Not as apparent is the CST’s wider work in education, advising on security, and its long-standing study into anti-Jewish sentiment from origins including far-right extremists and radical Islamists.

These efforts in this area have led to legal proceedings such as the jailing in 2021 of a man who was at the time one of the UK’s most active extremist anti-Jewish video streamers.

Counter-terrorism police were notified about his activity by the CST.

The charity also collaborates extensively with allies such as a national anti-Muslim hate monitoring project – the UK-wide initiative that records and measures Islamophobic events in the UK, and which has described the trust's activities as "innovative."

These organizations are in a formal partnership with additional anti-prejudice organizations as part of the CATCH partnership.

Additional Programs and Public Involvement

The trust's operations, which other communities have utilized, also includes its manual for protective measures for religious sites.

In other areas, it operates tailored teen safety programs for adolescents in conjunction with Maccabi GB, under the Streetwise initiative.

Additional activities involves partnerships with the law enforcement and with MPs, while it holds frequent meetings with government representatives and contributes to government policy on anti-Jewish issues.

While the CST serves the Jewish community, an group called a community watch organization also monitors anti-Jewish sentiment and represents Haredi Jewish groups.