UK’s new guidelines on non-crime hate incidents for freedom of expression
TCN Service/London
The UK government has issued new statutory guidelines on non-crime hate incidents to help the cops in prioritising freedom of expression.
The UK Home office has announced a new draft code of practice in the Parliament. This will help police to only record non-crime hate incidents when it is absolutely necessary and proportionate and not simply because someone is offended.
The measure will better protect people’s fundamental right to freedom of expression as well as their personal data.
The draft code follows concerns around police involvement in reports of ‘hate incidents’ which are trivial or irrational and do not amount to a criminal offence.
Commenting on the development, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said, “I have been deeply concerned about reports of the police wrongly getting involved in lawful debate in this country.
We have been clear that in recording so called non-crime hate incidents, officers must always have freedom of expression at the forefront of their minds.”
Braverman said ‘the new code will ensure the police are prioritising their efforts where it’s really needed and focusing on tackling serious crimes such as burglary, violent offences, rape and other sexual offences.’
The draft code introduces new safeguards to ensure that personal data may only be included in a non-crime hate incident record if the event is clearly motivated by intentional hostility and poses real risk of escalation.
It also provides detailed guidance on freedom of expression, and clear case studies to illustrate how this fundamental right should be considered by the police.
