Many people will be aware of Non-Crime Hate Incidents thanks to reports in the media over the last few years. Since their introduction in 2014, in guidance published by the College of Policing, an estimated 250,000 NCHIs have been recorded by police forces in England and Wales. Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) are defined as alleged acts perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards people with certain characteristics, such as race or gender. These are not actual hate crimes which are already prohibited by law.
They are recorded to collect data on "hate incidents that could escalate into more serious harm" but do not themselves amount to a criminal offence. Crucially they are informed by subjective perception, not evidence and as such, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, said non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) had "wasted police time chasing ideology and grievance instead of justice". Some examples of Non-Crime Hate Incidents that have been reported are clearly absurd, and estimates suggest that recording these incidents has taken up to 60,000 hours of police time per year. Like the vast majority of the public, I believe the police should prioritise real crimes that impact people's lives.
Pursuing such matters is a waste of police resources; officers should concentrate on genuine criminal activity. Time and again, we have seen the police waste time and resources targeting individuals simply for expressing opinions — a blatant infringement of free speech. Respected figures, such as Sir Stephen Watson, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, have called for these practices to be scrapped altogether. The police should become involved only where the criminal threshold is met. Non-criminal activity should be recorded only where it is deemed likely to be an immediate precursor to criminality.
Ultimately, while the College of Policing, which is an arm's-length body of the Home Office, plays an important part in setting standards, it is the Government's responsibility to provide clear direction and maintain high standards for policing. We should not let the College's role in setting standards overshadow its critical function in supporting our police force. As such, my colleagues and I called on the Government to end the use of Non-Crime Hate Incidents, and it is deeply disappointing that Labour MPs and Liberal Democrats voted against the amendment in the House of Commons.
I am also aware of reports suggesting that the Government intends to reverse the decision of the previous administration to introduce safeguards concerning certain non-crime hate incidents. In 2023, the Conservative Home Secretary issued a statutory code of practice setting out a common-sense and proportionate approach that should be adopted. I believe this would clearly be a step in the wrong direction.
The Crime and Policing Bill is now with the House of Lords and I understand the amendment will be re-tabled. I will be following this issue with great interest.
