FIGURES have revealed a rise in antisemitic offences reported in Dorset but a Bournemouth rabbi says it is fortunate there are not more.

Data from a Freedom of Information request, by PA news agency, showed an increase in antisemitic offences in the county but a decrease in Islamophobic offences.

Between October 7 and November 7 this year there were four reported antisemitic crimes, two in the same period the year before and just one within the timeframe in 2021.

Bournemouth Echo: Rabbi Maurice Michaels

Rabbi Maurice Michaels, from Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, said he “deplores any sort of hatred, whether it is race or religion related or not”.

However, he said despite the rise in offences, he believes it is important to recognise that the numbers are small compared to those in London and Manchester.

He said: “I think we're very fortunate here in Dorset that there doesn't appear to be the sort of hatred that there exists in other parts of the country.”

Rabbi Michaels added: “I think what we have to recognise is that whenever there are incidents happening in Israel, then these numbers increase.

“It's just one of those things.”

READ MORE: Vigil held in Bournemouth calling for release of Hamas hostages

A silent vigil was held in Bournemouth on December 28 calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas which Rabbi Michaels said went ‘remarkably smoothly’.

Bournemouth Echo:

He said: “There have been lots of demonstrations over the past few weeks but according to the community security trust there have not been in problems in terms of bad mouthing.

“It’s been a very good situation for us from that point of view.

“We are in that situation of watching very carefully but we had a vigil at the entrance to the pier in Bournemouth with a couple hundred of people and that went off ‘remarkably smoothly’.

“So, I think we have to be thankful for that and I think it’s largely because over the past year we’ve been able to create good relationships between different groups in Bournemouth and neighbouring areas and now we’re reaping the benefits of that.”

Data on Islamophobic offences in Dorset revealed one offence between October 7 and November 7, 2023, two offences in the period the year before and none in 2021.