Non-Crime Hate Incidents Spark Debate Over Police Priorities and Free Speech

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Doctors, vicars, and other professionals across Britain have been implicated in investigations into non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs), raising questions about the boundaries of free expression and the role of law enforcement in addressing societal tensions. NCHIs, designed to address behavior motivated by hostility toward protected characteristics, have been recorded in cases ranging from personal grievances to professional disputes.  

 

Police forces responding to freedom of information requests revealed that incidents have been logged against individuals performing their professional duties. For instance, a doctor faced accusations of hate after allegedly misdiagnosing a patient, while a vicar was labeled a suspect for declaring that being gay was sinful. A notable incident involved a person reporting a hate complaint after being called a “sheep shagger,” a derogatory term for a Welsh individual, and another where someone asked if a Chinese meal came “with bats.”  

 

According to guidance, NCHIs should address actions with a clear intent of hostility and the potential to escalate into significant harm or criminal behavior. However, concerns have arisen about the apparent misuse of such measures. Jake Hurfurt, from the privacy advocacy group Big Brother Watch, commented, “Time and time again we are seeing evidence of questionable non-crime hate incidents being recorded by police. Interpersonal squabbles have no place in police records, and forces devalue the concept of real hate crime when they spend time on thousands of these unnecessary reports.”  

 

The issue has been compounded by reports that children and journalists have also been subjects of NCHIs. For example, a nine-year-old girl was investigated for calling a classmate a derogatory term, and a journalist was reported for referring to an interview subject as “deaf and dumb.”  

Some police forces, such as West Yorkshire Police, have defended their approach, emphasizing a commitment to record every incident of alleged hate, regardless of whether it meets the threshold of criminality. In one case, a person claimed their bisexuality led to a misdiagnosis, and another individual alleged discrimination after being denied a spot on a course due to autism. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police stated that officers apply their judgment to determine hostility toward protected groups.  

 

Humberside Police also recorded an NCHI involving a vicar who allegedly caused distress by stating that being gay was sinful. The force stated it carefully assesses each case, considering vulnerabilities and risks while maintaining a "common-sense and proportionate approach."  

Other examples revealed by The Times include reports of a social worker accused of racially discriminating against a parent and failing to deliver gifts to children, and a pub incident where a transgender individual alleged they were targeted when asked to leave after being accused of inappropriate behavior.  

 

Critics argue that some incidents stretch the purpose of NCHIs. In Norfolk, a man’s comment about “sheep shagger” was logged, while Humberside recorded a hate incident involving a remark about bats and Chinese food. In South Wales, a lesbian couple believed a dead rat on their doorstep was a targeted act, despite the commonality of rats in the area.  

 

Surrey Police defended an NCHI where a couple was asked to leave a pub after allegations of inappropriate behavior, asserting that it was justified due to the transgender identity of one individual. In another case, a West Yorkshire woman reported an NCHI after finding a dead pigeon outside her home, linking it to prior harassment.  

 

The growing prevalence of NCHIs—13,200 recorded across 45 police forces in the year ending June 2023—has prompted calls for reform. Updated guidance from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman aims to raise the threshold for such reports. As the debate continues, balancing the protection of free expression and addressing genuine hate remains a contentious challenge for law enforcement.

 

Based on a report by The Times & Sunday Times 2024-11-18

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Western civilization rotates at an accelerating pace into the dustbin of history.

 

I thought the end would come in a military defeat, but seems more likely that in the end the barbarians will just walk in and take over.