Conservatives Seek to Limit Police Recording of "Non-Crime Hate Incidents

The Conservative Party has announced plans to restrict police recording of "non-crime hate incidents" (NCHIs). The party intends to introduce an amendment to the government's Crime and Policing Bill. This amendment would effectively prohibit officers from logging these incidents, with exceptions only granted when a senior officer deems the information crucial for preventing or solving future crimes.

Currently, NCHIs are recorded as incidents perceived to be motivated by prejudice based on characteristics like race or gender, even if they do not constitute a criminal offense. The Home Office argues that these records help forces monitor incidents that could escalate into more serious harm or indicate heightened community tensions. The practice was implemented following recommendations from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in 1999.

Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in the Conservative Party, has criticized NCHIs, arguing they divert police resources from genuine crime-fighting efforts. She believes officers are spending too much time investigating perceived offenses and social media activity rather than focusing on public safety. She has expressed concerns about declining public trust in the police, attributing it to a perceived focus on political correctness over real threats.

In 2023, the government updated the guidelines on NCHIs, limiting the recording of individuals' identities to cases involving a real risk of significant harm or future criminal activity. The new guidelines also instructed officers not to record an NCHI if the complaint was trivial or lacked intentional hostility or prejudice. Data suggests a slight decrease in the number of NCHIs recorded since 2021.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who was policing minister when the new guidelines were introduced, supports the amendment. He believes it will prevent police forces from wasting time on what he calls "Orwellian nonsense" and allow them to focus on fighting real crime. The Conservative Party has emphasized its commitment to free speech and common sense in this matter.