Welsh Antisemitism: 17 Crimes in Dyfed-Powys Amidst 2,044 Jewish Residents

Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 17 anti-Jewish crimes in 2025, a 42 percent jump from the 12 incidents logged in 2024. This increase occurred within a region where the Jewish population is a small fraction of the total residents. The figures come from a Freedom of Information request released this month.

The 2021 UK Census counted 2,044 people in Wales as identifying with Judaism, which is approximately 0.07 percent of the nation's 3.1 million inhabitants. Most of these individuals reside in Cardiff, which hosts both Reform and Orthodox synagogues. A Chabad synagogue serves Llandudno, while other cities host smaller, community-organized groups.

Professor Nathan Abrams, a specialist in Welsh Jewry at Bangor University, argues that the small size of the Jewish population does not reduce hostility. He told The Jerusalem Post that the Welsh fascination with Jews is inversely proportional to their numbers. Abrams stated that for 15 centuries, Wales had no Jewish residents, yet antisemitic attitudes persisted.

National police statistics for Wales between April 2025 and March 2026 show 6,157 recorded hate crimes. Of these, 325 were motivated by religion, down from 451 in the previous period. However, national data does not specify which religion was targeted, making it difficult to isolate anti-Jewish incidents without local police records.

The Community Security Trust separately logged 25 antisemitic incidents in Wales during calendar year 2025. The trust reported 13 incidents in North Wales, eight in South Wales, two in Dyfed-Powys, and two in Gwent. The discrepancy between the trust's national count and the higher number from Dyfed-Powys Police suggests that some offenses may be recorded under different categories locally.

The Welsh Local Government Association recently met with Jewish community representatives to discuss these trends. During the session, representatives described growing anxiety regarding routine verbal abuse and concerns for children in schools. They noted that some individuals are changing their public behavior to avoid identifying as Jewish.

Abrams describes the antisemitism in Wales as often stemming from political alignments, particularly support for Palestine among left-leaning nationalists. He notes that Plaid Cymru has called for harsh sanctions against Israel. Abrams characterizes the local hostility as a form of ambient antisemitism that makes Jews uncomfortable in public spaces, even if physical harm is not frequent.

He observed that this tension often manifests through social media and public demonstrations. Abrams said many well-meaning individuals cross into antisemitism by repeating historical tropes about Israel. He concluded that in Wales, the complexity of Jewish identity is frequently reduced to the Middle East conflict.