Sir Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, has called for police in England and Wales to stop recording and investigating non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs), arguing that the practice creates intense controversy while taking up minimal police time.
Cooke, who leads HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, said he believes NCHIs are no longer required and that intelligence can be gathered in a different way, which would cause less public concern. The College of Policing is currently reviewing the policy but has not provided further details.
The comments come amid ongoing debate over the policing of online speech. Last week, Father Ted writer Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport by five armed officers on suspicion of inciting violence under the Public Order Act over tweets about transgender issues, which he denies. Cooke acknowledged the arrest was a poor public optic but stressed he was not criticising the Metropolitan Police.
Cooke spoke as he launched the inspectorate's annual state of policing report, which found that 26% of graded judgments were 'requires improvement' and 6% 'inadequate'. The report highlighted struggles in responding to the public, investigating crime, and protecting vulnerable people, partly due to high demands exceeding resources. However, it also noted that many forces could do better with the resources they have.
Cooke called for police reform and substantial upfront investment from the government, warning that the Treasury may question whether forces are spending money efficiently. He emphasised that reforms require sustained commitment and must be sufficiently funded.
