Story perspectives

Police Chief Calls for End to Non-Crime Hate Recording

9/11/2025

Summary

Story summary

Sir Andy Cooke urges the cessation of recording non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs), arguing they detract from serious policing.
He points out that existing legislation hampers police discretion, especially regarding online matters, following Graham Linehan's arrest.
Cooke advocates for a review of policing policies to better support officers.
He calls for increased government funding to address resource challenges faced by police forces.
An inspectorate report reveals that 26% of police forces need improvement, highlighting systemic issues in public response and crime investigation.

History

Historical Context

In 2014, the UK implemented the recording of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) under the Equality Act to combat discrimination. This followed rising concerns over hate crimes, highlighted by incidents like the 2006 Harris County assault. The College of Policing noted that 26% of police forces faced challenges in addressing these issues, prompting calls for legislative review and better resource allocation to enhance public safety.

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Story summary

Sir Andy Cooke urges the cessation of recording non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs), arguing they detract from serious policing.
He points out that existing legislation hampers police discretion, especially regarding online matters, following Graham Linehan's arrest.
Cooke advocates for a review of policing policies to better support officers.
He calls for increased government funding to address resource challenges faced by police forces.
An inspectorate report reveals that 26% of police forces need improvement, highlighting systemic issues in public response and crime investigation.

1 / 2