The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced plans to scrap non-crime hate incidents in their current form, arguing that they have diverted police attention from tackling everyday crime. Mahmood emphasized the need for officers to focus on catching criminals and ensuring public safety, rather than monitoring social media or recording incidents that do not meet the criminal threshold. Senior police officials and organizations have also called for the practice to end, citing concerns that it wastes police resources and stifles free speech.

Non-crime hate incidents are recorded when actions are perceived as motivated by hatred but do not qualify as criminal offenses. Critics say these records can unfairly impact individuals, as they remain on police files and may appear in background checks. Recent high-profile cases, including the arrest of Graham Linehan and investigations into public figures over online comments, have intensified debate over the policy.

Mahmood confirmed that a new legal framework will be introduced following a review of public order and hate crime, stating that the current system is not acceptable and will be replaced. The announcement marks a significant shift in how police handle reports of hate-related incidents that fall short of criminality.