Dyfed-Powys Police Log 17 Anti-Jewish Crimes in 2025, Up 42% From Prior Year
New Freedom of Information data shows a sharp rise in recorded incidents in the northwest region, while national census data indicates only 2,044 residents in Wales identify as Jewish.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 17 crimes classified as anti-Jewish in 2025, a 42 percent increase from the 12 incidents logged in 2024. The figures, released via a Freedom of Information request, cover a specific policing area in the northwest and do not represent the total for the entire nation. They also exclude offenses recorded under other categories.
Professor Nathan Abrams, an expert on Welsh Jewry at Bangor University, stated that the low population of Jews in Wales has not resulted in low levels of hostility. He told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that the absence of Jews in the country has meant the opposite of what one might expect regarding antisemitism.
According to the 2021 UK Census, 2,044 people in Wales identified as Jewish by religion. This group represents approximately 0.07 percent of the nation's total population of 3.1 million. Most of these residents live in Cardiff, which hosts a Reform synagogue and an Orthodox synagogue. A Chabad synagogue serves the town of Llandudno, while smaller community groups exist in other urban areas.
National police data for Wales between April 2025 and March 2026 shows 6,157 recorded hate crimes. Of these, 325 were motivated by religion, down from 451 in the previous period. The national statistics do not provide a breakdown by specific religion, making it difficult to isolate anti-Jewish incidents from the wider figures.
The Community Security Trust separately tracked 25 antisemitic incidents in Wales during calendar year 2025. These included 13 in North Wales, 8 in South Wales, 2 in Dyfed-Powys, and 2 in Gwent. Abrams noted that on-the-ground figures often exceed those reported to the trust, suggesting the actual number of incidents may be higher.
The Welsh Local Government Association recently met with Jewish community representatives to discuss strategies for tackling antisemitism. During the session, community leaders reported growing anxiety about the issue. They cited routine verbal abuse and concerns about children in schools as key stressors. Some residents reported changing their behavior to avoid identifying as Jewish in public settings.
The South Wales Jewish Representative Council described the community as long-established and deeply rooted. A statement from the council noted that while the community is resilient, the recent rise in antisemitism has left many people shaken and concerned.
Abrams characterized the local antisemitism as a microcosm of trends in England, with a significant portion occurring on social media. He explained that much of the hostility coalesces around the Israel-Palestine conflict. He referenced the concept of ambient antisemitism, where demonstrations and street art create a hostile environment for Jews, even without direct physical harm.
The professor noted that his experience is shaped by living in a highly nationalist, Welsh-speaking region that supports Plaid Cymru. The party maintains a critical stance toward Israel and has campaigned for Palestinian state recognition. In September 2025, the party leader called for harsh sanctions against the Israeli government due to actions in Gaza. Abrams observed that Welsh nationalists often view themselves through a lens of colonial history, which influences their perspective on the region.
Abrams concluded that Welsh attitudes toward Jews have come full circle, starting with references to Israel in medieval texts and returning to that focus 1,600 years later. He stated that the complexity of Jewish identity in Wales is still frequently reduced to the Middle East conflict.
