[ad_1]
Police in Bedfordshire recorded the interaction as a non-crime hate incident, which will remain on their file for six years. The record could be disclosed to potential employers, impacting the man’s chances of getting a new job.
As a result of Hate Crime Guidelines, which took effect in 2014, police are obliged to record any incident a member of the public believes was motivated by hate, even if nothing criminal took place.
In 2020, 10,840 non-crime hate incidents were logged across the country, with 120,000 recorded since the new system was introduced.
Campaigners argue this can penalise people for expressing views that don’t violate any laws.
Details about the Bedfordshire whistling case are not known, but it is just one of a number of unusual hate incident reports by police.
According to the Daily Mail in another case, a gay man claimed a drug dealer ripped him off, because of homophobic attitudes.
In West Yorkshire, police recorded a non-crime hate incident against a swimming teacher, after a boy hit his head on the side of the pool.
His mother claimed the teacher allowed this “due to his ethnicity”, and police were obliged to make the report.
Norfolk Police recorded an incident in which a Portuguese national had a burger bun left on their driveway, which they claimed was “due to their ethnicity”.
READ MORE: Jacinda Ardern’s health chief launches scathing attack on Britain – ‘Quite astounding!’
“The public is right to ask why are police investigating things that are not crimes.”
Fair Cop was launched in a response to the new guidelines, which it wants updated to ensure “they recognise citizens’ freedom of expression”.
Its website states: “Some of us have been victims of police interaction following social media activity; some are police officers ashamed at police action.
“All of us are furious with the ‘Big Brother’ overreach of various police forces and other authorities.
“We are united in our aim of enforcing existing laws governing freedom of speech, conscience and assembly – rights that belong to us all in this country.”
According to the College of Policing non-crime incidents can be revealed by enhanced criminal record checks, it approved by a chief constable and relevant to the job.
Faculty head David Tucker noted: “Chief officers must also consider allowing someone the opportunity to reply before information is disclosed, and it should not be disclosed if it is trivial, simply demonstrates poor behaviour or relates merely to an individual’s lifestyle.”
The Home Office has been contacted by Express.co.uk for comment.
[ad_2]
