In the UK, over 6,500 Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) were recorded, highlighting concerns over trivial complaints, such as workplace disagreements about tattoos and perceptions of racism in song lyrics. Police, under Home Office guidance, are advised to log only serious incidents reflecting hostility based on race, religion, or other identities. However, critics argue that many documented cases—a neighbour's parking or song lyrics—are questionable, sparking a debate about freedom of speech and the appropriateness of police involvement in non-criminal disputes.
Forces recorded a neighbour parking too close to a car and a report of two white females singing a song with 'Africa' in the lyrics as hate incidents.
Critics argue Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) are an intrusion of freedom of speech despite police guidelines advising against logging trivial or irrational reports.
NCHIs recorded by police are supposed to reflect hostility or prejudice, documented for intelligence purposes—not criminal acts—but some logged cases seem questionable.
A Bedfordshire Police incident report involved a workplace disagreement over a colleague’s genital tattoo and its racist stereotyping of another’s headwear.
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