Police Chief Pushes to End "Non-Crime Hate Incident" Recordings

In a recent interview, the head of the Metropolitan Police has voiced support for scrapping the recording of "non-crime hate incidents." These are alleged acts perceived as motivated by hostility or prejudice, but do not amount to a criminal offense.

The police chief argued that the current system places officers in an "invidious position," as discretion and common sense do not always prevail in such cases. He believes that intelligence can be gathered in a different way, which would cause less concern to the public and make the recording process much easier for policing.

The comments come amid ongoing debate over recent police activity, including a visit to a Daily Telegraph columnist last year to arrange an interview over a social media post. While Essex Police later clarified that the investigation was not related to a "non-crime hate incident," the incident sparked significant public discussion.

The police chief underlined the need for people to be able to speak openly without fear of their opinions being criminalized. He emphasized that the role of the police is to deal with criminality across the board, which at times means addressing issues that occur online.

With the annual State of Policing in England and Wales assessment set for publication, the debate over the recording of "non-crime hate incidents" is likely to continue, as the police seek to balance public concerns with their duty to maintain law and order.