Source:
Latest updates – Thursday 12 October
We are working closely with our local partners and groups to provide reassurance and support to diverse communities, particularly those that are impacted by the conflict in the Middle East.
Since the weekend, the council and partners have been:
- contacting and engaging with up to 100 community groups to offer reassurance and helpful information, such as safety advice
- continuing to work closely with police and other partners to promote safety, for example, at sensitive locations, including places of worship and community buildings, ensuring extra police resources are in place, with the council providing whatever additional assistance is required
- convening a meeting of the Westminster Faith Exchange, featuring representatives from local synagogues, mosques and churches to listen to the needs of local groups and express solidarity. This session also featured senior representatives from the council and police, with the ongoing aim to continue to meet very regularly and keep the dialogue going
- putting in place and delivering an ongoing proactive programme of contact from senior councillors and officers to visit faith venues and communities, including mosques and synagogues. The purpose is to listen to local concerns and provide reassurance and assistance
- working with local groups to support a series of community conversations to listen and hear about their concerns and share information
- promoting humanitarian assistance for all those affected in the region
- reaching out to local schools to offer support, including making specialist support available for children and families in distress
- supporting police and other partners to facilitate protests in central London whilst also providing reassurance to our residents who may be affected
Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council, said:
The strength of our city is our diversity, and we deplore all forms of violence and hatred, be it Antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other form of abuse which will not be tolerated. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by what is happening, and if able, we would urge people to support the humanitarian efforts in the region.
Along with our local community partners, we are calling for unity, calm and restraint during a testing time for our city. Our role as a local authority is to work with all faith groups, community leaders and the police to provide reassurance and safety to all our residents. We are reaching out to provide whatever help we can, and we are grateful for the work of so many local groups who are coming together to provide support across our communities.
Image details: Leader and Deputy Leader’s visit to Rabbi David Mitchell at the West London Synagogue.
Read Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council’s first statement on the situation in the Middle East, from Monday 9 October.
Help and information
We will update this page with any updates, or you can follow us on Twitter.
For information about humanitarian efforts and to support fundraising by the British Red Cross, Islamic Relief and Oxfam, visit the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) website.
For government travel advice, including contact details if concerned about a friend or family, visit GOV.UK.
Latest updates from the Metropolitan Police can be found on the Met Police website or follow the Met Police on Twitter.
The latest from the Mayor of London can be found on their website, or follow the Mayor of London on Twitter.
For the latest travel information or to plan your journey, visit Transport for London or follow TfL on Twitter.