Jewish people are living in fear that has become acute in recent weeks. It now seeps into every part of daily life: the school run, a walk down the high street, a meal in a restaurant, attending synagogue on Shabbat.

This is heartbreaking. It is utterly unacceptable that Jewish people are having to live like this.

Antisemitism in our country has spanned nearly a millennium but it has been rising again over the past decade. Last year alone nearly 2,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded in London. Now this wave of hate has begun to feel like a tsunami.

The horrific terror attack in Golders Green was just the latest in a series of antisemitic acts of violence that have targeted Jewish people, synagogues, homes and charities. Understandably, many Jewish people are angry. They expect to see real action to ensure their safety. They are right. I am focused on doing all I can as mayor of London to deliver that action.

We have significantly increased policing in north-west London. The government also announced £25m to boost police patrols in Jewish communities.

However, this will not be enough. We need to recognise the seriousness and persistence of the threat. This will require additional, dedicated funding from the government, which I am actively lobbying for.

Many Jewish Londoners also want to see more action against those who promote hatred at protests. The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy, but anyone stirring up hatred against Jewish people should be more readily arrested and prosecuted. We must always ensure that antisemitism carries real consequences.

I also appeal to the common decency of Londoners. Even if there is uncertainty about which chants cross legal thresholds, if it causes distress and is offensive to our fellow Jewish citizens, it should not be used. Respect for one another must remain the foundation of London life. It is not hard to express criticism of Israel without inciting violence.

The recent antisemitic attacks also raise urgent questions about how those linked to the Iranian state could be facilitating attacks in London. This must be thoroughly investigated.

Antisemitism in London sadly stretches back a thousand years, but so too does the resilience of London’s Jewish communities and the solidarity of Londoners from all backgrounds. This has seen dockers standing with Jewish tailors on strike in the late-19th century, Irish Londoners building barricades alongside Jewish neighbours during the battle of Cable Street, and British families taking in Jewish children arriving on the Kindertransport.

During many dark times, Londoners have offered a thread of hope by standing with their Jewish neighbours. I urge everyone to stand on the shoulders of great Londoners of the past by speaking up and joining the fight against antisemitic hatred.

And I will not rest until Jewish people feel safe, secure and able to live without fear once again.

• Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London

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Courtesy of Guardian News & Media Ltd.

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