Senior police chief urges Labour ministers to consider scrapping non-crime hate incidents - after journalist visited by police over year-old social media post
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A police chief last night said the Government should consider scrapping non-crime hate incidents as it is an 'impediment' to officers. Lord Herbert, chairman of the College of Policing, wants Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to scrap the practice in its present form because it distracts forces from doing 'the basics'.
![[Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wants police to log non-crime hate incidents only when there is a clear risk to community tensions, with a particular focus on Islamophobia and antisemitism]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/00/93179529-14196059-image-a-170_1734310056032.jpg)
He has become the most senior policing figure to criticise how hate incidents are recorded after Essex Police launched an investigation last month into Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson over an old social media post. The College of Policing, as well as the National Police Chiefs' Council, have written to Home Office, with the support of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, calling for the category to be reviewed to ensure a balance is met between preventing harm and freedom of speech.
![[Essex Police dropped its investigation into Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson (pictured in 2011) over a tweet that was posted, and then quickly deleted, in November 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/01/92340623-14196059-Essex_Police_has_today_dropped_its_investigation_into_Telegraph_-a-135_1734312316966.jpg)
More than 13,000 hate incidents were recorded in the 12 months to June this year, figures from 45 of Britain's 48 police forces showed. Lord (Nick) Herbert, chairman of the College of Policing, wants Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to scrap the practice in its present form because it distracts forces from doing 'the basics'.
![[More than 13,000 hate incidents were recorded in the 12 months to June this year, figures from 45 of Britain's 48 police forces showed (file image)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/00/92440175-14196059-Police_are_wasting_an_estimated_60_000_hours_on_non_crime_hate_i-m-172_1734310279452.jpg)
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wants police to log non-crime hate incidents only when there is a clear risk to community tensions, with a particular focus on Islamophobia and antisemitism. Essex Police dropped its investigation into Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson (pictured in 2011) over a tweet that was posted, and then quickly deleted, in November 2023.
