Man charged after Nazi salute outside synagogue

A man has been charged after giving a Nazi salute outside a Borehamwood synagogue.

Kamil Mach, aged 19, of Holywell Road, Watford, will appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 16 October. He has been charged with a racially/religiously aggravated Section 5 public order offence.

The incident occurred as worshippers were leaving the synagogue in Croxdale Road on Saturday 9 May.

Mach was arrested on Friday 22 May and given bail conditions not to attend any synagogues in England and not to attend Croxdale Road. The conditions remain the same ahead of his court appearance.

Inspector Rachael Robertson, from the Hertsmere Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Antisemitism has no place here in Hertsmere or the wider county. We want all communities to feel safe and incidents like this will always be taken extremely seriously. 

“We know that the Jewish community are feeling particularly vulnerable at the moment and we are regularly meeting with Jewish faith leaders to see how we can best support them. New funding has been received from the government to help us with this and there’ll be increased patrols across the upcoming high holy days.”

You can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Hate crime

A hate crime is any crime that is targeted against a person because of their disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or transgender identity.

Hertfordshire Constabulary recognises that not everyone will feel comfortable reporting a hate crime directly to police, which is why we have worked with partners to establish third-party reporting centres across the county. 

Staff at these centres, which include religious locations, community centres, charities, leisure centres, council buildings and more, have received training from police and are supported by local police Hate Crime Officers.

They can support anonymity by taking reports on behalf of those who do not want to go directly to police. 

All those who report a hate crime, either directly to police or via a third-party reporting centre, will be treated with respect and sensitivity. 

Visit hertsagainsthate.org for more information including details of third-party reporting centres.