#non-crime-hate-incidents

#non-crime-hate-incidents

Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) should be scrapped as they are no longer fit for purpose, police leaders will recommend to the home secretary. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and College of Policing will publish a review into public order and hate crime laws next month, in which they will call for NCHIs to be replaced with a new common sense system, as reported by The Telegraph.

The Metropolitan police has been lauded in some quarters for deciding that it will no longer investigate so-called non-crime hate incidents, in order to allow officers to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations. Against the context of headlines describing the Met as the thought police, something was bound to give. Goodbye and good riddance to non-crime' was one joyful take in the Spectator.

We understand the concern around this case. The commissioner has been clear he doesn't believe officers should be policing toxic culture war debates, with current laws and rules on inciting violence online leaving them in an impossible position. As a result, the Met will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents. We believe this will provide clearer direction for officers, reduce ambiguity and enable them to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations.

Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are recorded by police to help assess community tensions and try to head off trouble. Some, most vocally on the political right, see this as a threat to free speech. Cooke, who leads HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, said: I'm a firm believer that non-crime hate incidents are no longer required, and that intelligence can be gathered in a different way, which would cause less concern to the public and would make recording of such issues much easier for policing.

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.