Latest news with #NCHIs
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England
The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024 LOO-NACY! Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England COPS are still logging bizarre hate incidents — including the singing of anthem Flower of Scotland at an English railway station. An investigation by The Sun reveals how police — under fire for not catching shoplifters and burglars — are wasting vital time on the 'non-crime hate incidents'. 5 Police across Britain stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints (stock picture) Credit: Alamy 5 One force probed concerns about a man singing anthem Flower of Scotland at an English train station (stock picture) Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Cops also investigated a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo (stock picture) Credit: Alamy Former officers and MPs want the 'crackers' cases scrapped. Police stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints — including one about a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo. Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway. Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo. The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024. The true figure would be much higher as 15 of the 44 police forces in England and Wales did not disclose figures under a Freedom of Information request. MPs and top cops led calls to stop wasting time on NCHIs, which are recorded where no criminal offence has been committed but the 'victim' feels it was motivated by hate or prejudice. Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick said: 'We have lost the plot. 'Practically everyone in the country will have at some point said something that would get them reported. 'This is crackers. Moment Met boss dodges question over two-tier policing of riots by grabbing reporters' mic & chucking it to floor 'We need to scrap NCHIs altogether.' Reform UK's Lee Anderson added: 'The majority of these incidents are reported by total snowflakes. 'These are the people who should be charged with wasting police time. 'Officers should be investigating proper crimes not hurt feelings. 'Those who complain should go and live on a remote island with some of our celebrities who make a living out of being offended.' The person in Bedfordshire upset by the Where's Wally tattoo also complained of the supervisor asking about their shoes and requests to remove their durag hair covering. The incident was recorded as 'sex-based and hate-motivated'. The police log obtained by The Sun says: 'The victim felt irritated for the rest of the shift as it was mean and uncalled for.' In Dunstable, Beds, a complainant said they heard a neighbour gossiping on their Ring doorbell, then point at their home and make an insult before walking off. Bedfordshire Police said: 'We record hate related incidents in line with national guidance set out by the College of Policing.' South Wales Police, which dealt with the trans row, recorded 40 NCHIs last year. It said one 'perpetrator' was aged nine, another 11. Humberside Police logged the case where a person put on an Indian accent to order a curry. West Yorkshire Police handled 175 complaints — one from a man who claimed his bins kept being moved because he was gay. Forces that did not provide their figures included London's Met — the UK's biggest — West Midlands, Essex and Devon and Cornwall. Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: 'These examples are ludicrous and a total waste of police time. 'Waste of police time' 'It is not a policing matter if someone is singing Flower of Scotland. 'If it were, the whole of the Met would have to be deployed when Scotland play rugby at Twickenham. 'These are mostly juvenile situations and officers should not lower themselves to getting involved. 'It is a serious problem when a lot of actual crimes are not investigated.' NCHIs were introduced in 2014 and are meant to help forces develop intelligence on situations that could potentially escalate. In some cases, cops speak to those supposedly committing offences. An NCHI can remain on file for six years and, in some cases, be disclosed to a prospective employer. A report this week by think tank Civitas called for NCHIs to be abolished. Author Hardeep Singh said: 'Some activist groups continue to weaponise them against their political opponents. "We've seen the most absurd incidents being recorded over the years, and precious police resources should not be drained by policing online ideological disputes.' 5 Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo Credit: Alamy In 2023, the Home Office issued guidance instructing officers to consider if there was genuine hostility in the incident or whether it could be considered freedom of speech. Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the policy of recording NCHIs had 'passed its sell-by date'. Sir Andy Marsh, head of standards body the College of Policing, called on officers to use more 'common sense' and signalled that the recording of NCHIs needs to be scrapped. He said: 'What we've wrapped up that objective in doesn't stand up to scrutiny on many occasions under the common-sense test. 'We need to fix it. 'I don't want to be policing freedom of speech.'
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England
COPS are still logging bizarre hate incidents — including the singing of anthem Flower of Scotland at an English railway station. An investigation by The Sun reveals how police — under fire for not catching shoplifters and burglars — are wasting vital time on the 'non-crime hate incidents'. Advertisement 5 Police across Britain stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints (stock picture) Credit: Alamy 5 One force probed concerns about a man singing anthem Flower of Scotland at an English train station (stock picture) Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Cops also investigated a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo (stock picture) Credit: Alamy Former officers and MPs want the 'crackers' cases scrapped. Police stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints — including one about a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo. Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway. Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo. Advertisement READ MORE UK NEWS The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024. The true figure would be much higher as 15 of the 44 police forces in England and Wales did not disclose figures under a Freedom of Information request. MPs and top cops led calls to stop wasting time on NCHIs, which are recorded where no criminal offence has been committed but the 'victim' feels it was motivated by hate or prejudice. Shadow Justice Minister Advertisement Most read in The Sun 'Practically everyone in the country will have at some point said something that would get them reported. 'This is crackers. Moment Met boss dodges question over two-tier policing of riots by grabbing reporters' mic & chucking it to floor 'We need to scrap NCHIs altogether.' Reform UK's Advertisement 'These are the people who should be charged with wasting police time. 'Officers should be investigating proper crimes not hurt feelings. 'Those who complain should go and live on a remote island with some of our celebrities who make a living out of being offended.' The person in Bedfordshire upset by the Where's Wally tattoo also complained of the supervisor asking about their shoes and requests to remove their durag hair covering. Advertisement The incident was recorded as 'sex-based and hate-motivated'. The police log obtained by The Sun says: 'The victim felt irritated for the rest of the shift as it was mean and uncalled for.' In Dunstable, Beds, a complainant said they heard a neighbour gossiping on their Ring doorbell, then point at their home and make an insult before walking off. Bedfordshire Police said: 'We record hate related incidents in line with national guidance set out by the College of Policing.' Advertisement South Wales Police, which dealt with the trans row, recorded 40 NCHIs last year. It said one 'perpetrator' was aged nine, another 11. Humberside Police logged the case where a person put on an Indian accent to order a curry. West Yorkshire Police handled 175 complaints — one from a man who claimed his bins kept being moved because he was gay. Advertisement Forces that did not provide their figures included London's Met — the UK's biggest — West Midlands, Essex and Devon and Cornwall. Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: 'These examples are ludicrous and a total waste of police time. 'Waste of police time' 'It is not a policing matter if someone is singing Flower of Scotland . 'If it were, the whole of the Met would have to be deployed when Scotland play rugby at Twickenham. Advertisement 'These are mostly juvenile situations and officers should not lower themselves to getting involved. 'It is a serious problem when a lot of actual crimes are not investigated.' NCHIs were introduced in 2014 and are meant to help forces develop intelligence on situations that could potentially escalate. In some cases, cops speak to those supposedly committing offences. Advertisement An NCHI can remain on file for six years and, in some cases, be disclosed to a prospective employer. A report this week by think tank Civitas called for NCHIs to be abolished. Author Hardeep Singh said: 'Some activist groups continue to weaponise them against their political opponents. "We've seen the most absurd incidents being recorded over the years, and precious police resources should not be drained by policing online ideological disputes.' 5 Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway Credit: Getty - Contributor Advertisement 5 Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo Credit: Alamy In 2023, the Home Office issued guidance instructing officers to consider if there was genuine hostility in the incident or whether it could be considered freedom of speech. Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the policy of recording NCHIs had 'passed its sell-by date'. Sir Andy Marsh, head of standards body the College of Policing, called on officers to use more 'common sense' and signalled that the recording of NCHIs needs to be scrapped. Advertisement He said: 'What we've wrapped up that objective in doesn't stand up to scrutiny on many occasions under the common-sense test. 'We need to fix it. 'I don't want to be policing freedom of speech.'
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tories push to ban recording of non-crime hate incidents
The recording of non-crime hate incidents by police forces should be scrapped in all but a few cases, the Conservatives have party will try to amend the government's Crime and Policing Bill to ban forces from logging such incidents, except in limited leader Kemi Badenoch said non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) had "wasted police time chasing ideology and grievance instead of justice".But Policing Minister Diana Johnson said the plan was "unworkable" and "would prevent the police monitoring serious antisemitism and other racist incidents". NCHIs are defined as alleged acts perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards people with certain characteristics, such as race or are recorded to collect data on "hate incidents that could escalate into more serious harm" but do not amount to a criminal offence, according to Home Office guidance on the recording of NCHIs was first published in 2005, following recommendations by an inquiry into the murder of Stephen marks 33 years since he was murdered in a racially motivated attack in south-east Tories said it was not intentional that their announcement came on the anniversary. NCHIs are not recorded nationally by a single source and not all police forces publish data on the number of incidents they year, the Telegraph newspaper reported that 43 forces in England and Wales had recorded more than 133,000 non-crime hate incidents (NCHI) since 2023, the Conservative government changed the guidance on the recording of new guidelines said officers should consider whether a complaint was "trivial" or if the incident was motivated by "intentional hostility or prejudice". At the time, shadow home secretary Chris Philp was policing minister and in a statement to MPs, he said: "If someone is targeted because of hostility or prejudice towards their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity, and the criteria in the code are met, the incident can and should be recorded as a non-crime hate incident."But the Conservatives under Badenoch's leadership are saying the "use of NCHIs has spiralled out of control".The party said under its plans, only senior officers would be allowed to record NCHIs in clearly defined circumstances, such as the prevention or investigation or actual crimes."The British public want police on the streets - fighting crime and protecting families - not trawling social media for things someone might find offensive," Badenoch said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer needed to "stand up, show some courage, and back real policing over political correctness".Policing minister Diana Johnson said the Tories had "14 years in charge of policing to set priorities or make policy changes in this area, and failed to do so".She added: "Instead of introducing unworkable and half-baked measures which would prevent the police monitoring serious antisemitism and other racist incidents, the Tories should support the Labour government's prioritisation of neighbourhood policing and serious violence."A Reform UK spokesman said: "The Tories had 14 years in government to do this, instead we saw non-crime hate incidents surge under their watch."Reform are clear, we want to get more bobbies on the beat and put an end to two-tier policing in Britain. Police forces across the country should be focussed on solving real crimes, not policing social media posts."The BBC has approached the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party for comment. Policing and crime are among the issues political parties have been campaigning on ahead of next week's local elections in an interview with the BBC, Badenoch said the Tories were bracing for a tough set of defended her leadership of the Conservatives and insisted she would not be swayed by internal criticism about the amount of policy she had announced so far."It's really important that we take time to get things right - rebuild trust with the public and have a credible offer," Badenoch said. POSTCODE LOOKUP: Check if there is an election in your areaSIMPLE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about the local electionsGET IN TOUCH: Tell us the election issues that matter to youFULL COVERAGE: Catch up on all our election stories
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The police must fight crime, not legal speech
The UK is supposed to be the home of free speech – and a country where the police chase criminals, not law abiding members of the public. So I was horrified, last November, when police officers called on Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson. It was initially believed that they were investigating a so-called non-crime hate incident (or NCHI), based on a comment she'd posted on social media. In my view the police should have only one overriding priority: catching criminals and protecting the public from crime. This emphatically does not extend to acting as the thought police or intervening when someone makes an off colour remark online. People are perfectly entitled to say whatever they like, including things that are offensive, provided that they are not illegal. These boundaries are set out by Parliament in law. It's illegal to incite racial or religious hatred, express support for a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Hamas or to use threats or intimidation to harass someone. But saying that women don't have penises, criticising a religion or simply saying something offensive are not illegal. It follows that people should not be harassed or investigated by the police for any of these things. And yet they are. Police investigated and recorded personal data on around 13,000 NCHIs last year – taking up around 30,000 hours of police time. This personal data – where no crime has been committed – is then potentially disclosable by the police as part of an enhanced criminal record check for years to come. NCHIs were never legislated for by Parliament. They were created through police guidance in the early 2000s in response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence and further entrenched in 2014. The inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's murder found that the previous extreme racism exhibited by his killers should have been identified and his death thereby prevented. Where hatred is such that it is a likely to lead to an actual crime, then there is a good case for police taking an interest – as they would in relation to any intelligence that might be a precursor to criminal activity. But over the years, NCHIs have expanded beyond all recognition and have strayed far from this original intention. Reporting in the Telegraph only yesterday showed that the police now don't even bother to analyse NCHIs for patterns of possible criminality. NCHIs have been investigated and personal details recorded over the most absurdly trivial things. This has included singing a song with the word 'Africa' in the lyrics; commenting on EU citizens working here; a mobility scooter being ridden on a pavement; commenting on the trans debate; an intemperate email sent between family members and even playground arguments between children. It is clear the police are now wasting colossal amounts of their time on NCHIs and infringing our ancient rights to free speech while they do so. In 2023 while in government, Conservatives introduced tighter rules on NCHIs to try to stop this abuse. But a report by HM Inspector of Constabulary in September 2024 found that the new rules were being ignored: the Police had simply carried on as before. I have raised this in Parliament over recent months and it's clear that the Labour government has no real intention of fixing this problem. This is why the Conservatives are now announcing a new policy: NCHIs as a category of incident should be scrapped in their should only investigate or record something where it is likely to be genuinely necessary to prevent or investigate crime. This will free up tens of thousands of hours of police time to catch real criminals and help restore free speech. Instead of policing Twitter, police should spend more time catching burglars and mobile phone thieves. The Conservatives will table this as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill currently going through Parliament and will force a vote. Then it will be clear which MPs are willing to stand up for common sense, getting police priorities straight and for free speech – and which MPs are not. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The police must fight crime, not legal speech
The UK is supposed to be the home of free speech – and a country where the police chase criminals, not law abiding members of the public. So I was horrified, last November, when police officers called on Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson. It was initially believed that they were investigating a so-called non-crime hate incident (or NCHI), based on a comment she'd posted on social media. In my view the police should have only one overriding priority: catching criminals and protecting the public from crime. This emphatically does not extend to acting as the thought police or intervening when someone makes an off colour remark online. People are perfectly entitled to say whatever they like, including things that are offensive, provided that they are not illegal. These boundaries are set out by Parliament in law. It's illegal to incite racial or religious hatred, express support for a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Hamas or to use threats or intimidation to harass someone. But saying that women don't have penises, criticising a religion or simply saying something offensive are not illegal. It follows that people should not be harassed or investigated by the police for any of these things. And yet they are. Police investigated and recorded personal data on around 13,000 NCHIs last year – taking up around 30,000 hours of police time. This personal data – where no crime has been committed – is then potentially disclosable by the police as part of an enhanced criminal record check for years to come. NCHIs were never legislated for by Parliament. They were created through police guidance in the early 2000s in response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence and further entrenched in 2014. The inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's murder found that the previous extreme racism exhibited by his killers should have been identified and his death thereby prevented. Where hatred is such that it is likely to lead to an actual crime, then there is a good case for police taking an interest – as they would in relation to any intelligence that might be a precursor to criminal activity. But over the years, NCHIs have expanded beyond all recognition and have strayed far from this original intention. Reporting in the Telegraph only yesterday showed that the police now don't even bother to analyse NCHIs for patterns of possible criminality. NCHIs have been investigated and personal details recorded over the most absurdly trivial things. This has included singing a song with the word 'Africa' in the lyrics; commenting on EU citizens working here; a mobility scooter being ridden on a pavement; commenting on the trans debate; an intemperate email sent between family members and even playground arguments between children. It is clear the police are now wasting colossal amounts of their time on NCHIs and infringing our ancient rights to free speech while they do so. In 2023 while in government, Conservatives introduced tighter rules on NCHIs to try to stop this abuse. But a report by HM Inspector of Constabulary in September 2024 found that the new rules were being ignored. The Police had simply carried on as before. I have raised this in Parliament over recent months and it's clear that the Labour government has no real intention of fixing this problem. This is why the Conservatives are now announcing a new policy: NCHIs as a category of incident should be scrapped in their entirety. Police should only investigate or record something where it is likely to be genuinely necessary to prevent or investigate crime. This will free up tens of thousands of hours of police time to catch real criminals and help restore free speech. Instead of policing Twitter, police should spend more time catching burglars and mobile phone thieves. The Conservatives will table this as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill currently going through Parliament and will force a vote. Then it will be clear which MPs are willing to stand up for common sense, getting police priorities straight and for free speech – and which MPs are not.
