Former Met Chief Criticizes Police Focus on Non-Crime Hate Incidents

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A former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Hogan-Howe, has called on the Government to reassess the role of non-crime hate incidents in policing. His remarks follow the release of a Policy Exchange report revealing that such incidents consume an estimated 60,000 hours of police time annually, detracting from efforts to address actual crimes.

 

The report, published by the think tank Policy Exchange, has sparked fresh debate about the utility and consequences of recording non-crime hate incidents, which do not meet the threshold of criminality but are documented by police. In light of the findings, Lord Hogan-Howe urged ministers to carefully examine the report and determine whether the police should even engage with such matters.  

 

This renewed scrutiny coincides with a controversial investigation into Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson. Essex Police visited Pearson at her home on Remembrance Sunday, informing her that she was being investigated for allegedly inciting racial hatred in a social media post from the previous year. The investigation, which was later dropped, prompted widespread criticism of the non-crime hate incident system.  

 

Lord Hogan-Howe, the highest-ranking police figure to speak out against the practice, acknowledged the original intention behind recording such incidents was well-meaning. The measure was introduced in the aftermath of Stephen Lawrence's murder to track and prevent incidents that could escalate into hate crimes. However, he argued the policy had evolved without adequate debate over its effectiveness.  

 

“The original aim was well-intentioned, but the implementation has raised questions,” Hogan-Howe remarked. He explained that determining what constitutes a non-crime hate incident is inherently subjective, leading to inconsistent practices. He added, “Parliament, rather than the College of Policing, must decide whether the police should be investigating people for non-crime hate incidents and how they are recorded.”  

 

The peer expressed concern over the public's perception of police involvement in such cases, noting that officers have no formal authority to investigate or question individuals about incidents that fall short of criminality.  

 

The Policy Exchange report highlighted significant resource implications, estimating that police officers investigate roughly 13,000 non-crime hate incidents annually. The report also pointed out stark disparities in how police forces handle these cases. Essex Police, the force that investigated Pearson, reportedly spent more time per officer on non-crime hate incidents than any other major force.  

 

In 2022, Essex Police recorded 21.5 non-crime hate incidents per 100 officers annually, double the national rate and significantly higher than forces such as the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police, and West Yorkshire Police.  

 

Lord Hogan-Howe emphasized the importance of addressing the findings, stating, “I would urge ministers to look closely at this Policy Exchange report to inform the path they intend to take.”  

 

As the debate intensifies, the question remains whether non-crime hate incidents warrant continued attention from police forces or whether resources would be better allocated to tackling more serious criminal activities.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-26