UK Faces Pressure to Reform NCHI Policy

There is increasing pressure to review or abolish the recording of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) in the UK, with critics arguing they divert police resources from serious crime and have a chilling effect on free speech. Former police officials, including ex-Greater Manchester Chief Constable Peter Fahy and former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe, have voiced concerns that NCHIs involve police in complex social issues and distract them from their primary duties. A Policy Exchange report highlights that NCHIs consume 60,000 hours of police time annually, leading to calls for reform from various quarters. The investigation of journalist Allison Pearson by Essex Police, later dropped, exemplified the contentious nature of NCHIs, which are perceived as being subjectively recorded without clear legal thresholds. In response, the Home Secretary plans to introduce 'common sense' guidelines, limiting NCHIs to cases with clear risks to community tensions. Critics, including former Detective Chief Inspector David Spencer, also note the negative impact of NCHIs on job opportunities due to their documentation in background checks.