POLICE in Prestwich and Whitefield are to step up patrols during the Jewish holiday period.

In a new initiative, officers will join forces with members of the Jewish Community Security Trust (CST) and provide a visible presence to make families feel at ease while visiting local synagogues.

The patrols, which will include some uniformed and some plain-clothed officers, will start this weekend for the Jewish New Year and continue over the next week or so as the community celebrates a number of festivals.

A spokesman from the CST, which is a national organisation and has an office in Middleton Road, said a similar initiative had been run in London for a few years and had been successful.

Inspector David Jones, head of Prestwich and Whitefield Township, said: "We have worked with the CST before on an ad-hoc basis but this is the first time we have patrolled during the Jewish holidays. We were asked to do it to provide reassurance to members of the Jewish community who may be feeling vulnerable as they walk to and from the synagogue."

Insp Jones said some people experience anti-Semitic comments and during the holiday period they feel particularly vulnerable.

He added: "This is the first time the CST and the police are having a joint patrol in the Manchester area during the High Holy Day period. We will be working very closely with them to provide reassurance to the Jewish community, who themselves asked for these patrols. The CST members, who are trained volunteers, will be highly visible and all carry identification cards. I hope it will be a very peaceful time."