Barnet Council has conferred the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on five Jewish organisations, in recognition of what it calls their extraordinary service to the borough.
The honour goes to Hatzola Northwest, Hatzola Edgware, Hatzola HBS, the Community Security Trust (CST) and Shomrim NW London. It was celebrated with a special ceremony at Hendon Town Hall on Monday 2 November, and announced by the council on Tuesday 3 November.
The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour a council can bestow. It is conferred under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, and the council’s own motion describes it as “the most honourable award, it is in the Council’s privilege to bestow”. The honour was formally conferred at the council’s Extraordinary General Meeting on Tuesday 7 July, ahead of Monday’s ceremony.
Hatzola: a free, round-the-clock medical response
Hatzola was honoured for its exceptional contribution to the health and wellbeing of the Barnet community, providing what the council describes as a free, rapid-response emergency medical service to all.
The motion behind the award records that Hatzola’s volunteers have responded to thousands of medical emergencies over many years, worked alongside the statutory emergency services, promoted community health and helped save and enhance countless lives across the borough. It runs a free, 24-hour volunteer emergency medical response service, available to every member of the community.
The award also pays tribute to the resilience and steadfast commitment of Hatzola’s volunteers in continuing that work after the attack on Hatzola ambulances on 23 March 2026.
CST: safeguarding the Jewish community
The Community Security Trust was recognised for its tireless work in safeguarding the Jewish community across the borough.
CST provides security advice and equipment to Jewish schools, organisations, synagogues and communal buildings across the UK, and is recognised by the Jewish community, government, police and media as Britain’s leading expert on the data, detail, cause and impact of contemporary antisemitism. It gained charitable status in 1994, and across the UK more than 2,000 volunteers and 115 members of staff carry out its mission. It also administers the Home Office’s Protective Security Grant, which contributes towards security at Jewish communal locations.
Shomrim: volunteers on patrol, first on the scene
Shomrim NW London was commended for its dedication and bravery, including the actions of its volunteers in helping to apprehend the person responsible for the stabbings on Golders Green Road in April 2026.
Shomrim is a volunteer-led community safety organisation, operating free of charge, 24 hours a day. It provides high-visibility patrols to deter crime, offer reassurance and respond to emergencies, including antisemitic incidents and violent attacks, often being among the first on the scene. Its volunteers have on many occasions run towards danger to support victims, safeguard the public and assist the emergency services, and it works together with the police and other agencies on community safety, incident response and public reassurance.
In conferring the honour, the council said it was formally recording the high esteem in which the five organisations are held by the council and the community, and recognising the invaluable contribution they make to the life of the borough.
In other Barnet news, the council is facing a £200m budget gap, while a burglary gang that targeted homes in Barnet was jailed following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
