Matthew has welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that extra funding will be provided to protect the Jewish community amid rises in anti-Semitism. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that £3 million of extra funding will be provided to the Community Security Trust to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings. This is in light of a shocking rise in anti-Semitic incidents following the terror attacks in Israel last week. 

Having convened a meeting with Jewish community leaders and the police, the Home Secretary agreed the extra funding and also asked police to use their existing Section 14 powers in in the Public Order Act where appropriate to prevent assemblies blocking roads, including outside Jewish monuments and buildings such as the Israeli Embassy. 

This week Matthew has been meeting with constituents across the Hendon constituency and London to hear about their concerns. Matthew has also heard from representatives from the CST as well as attended briefings with the Metropolitan Police Service.

Matthew said: "I am very grateful that the Prime Minister has made a swift decision to provide extra funding to the CST at this crucial time. 

"It is extremely sad and distressing to hear of reports of schools closing out of safety concerns. My first question in Parliament when I was elected in 2010 was to ask the Government if they would pay the additional costs of security for Jewish faith schools. 

"No person should feel unsafe in this country as a result of terror abroad - especially children - and I will be raising this in further meetings with the Metropolitan Police this week."

Matthew is pictured on a visit to Etz Chaim Jewish Primary school.