POLICE should separate “the offensive from the criminal” and stop recording non-crime hate incidents, the police watchdog has said.
Sir Andy Cooke, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, insisted forces need to get the basics right and focus on the issues that matter to the public.
3
He said: “We need, at times, to allow people to speak openly without the fear their opinion will put them on the wrong side of the law.”
Sir Andy, ex-chief constable of Merseyside, said the focus of law enforcement must return to neighbourhood policing.
It comes after Father Ted writer Graham Linehan, 57, was arrested by armed cops over posts he made about trans issues.
He has vowed to sue the Met Police and seek asylum in the US as he no longer feels safe in Britain.
Asked about the case, Sir Andy replied: “Was it a great public optic?
“No, it wasn’t. Lessons, I’m sure, will be learned in relation to it.”
He said such incidents detract from the good work cops do daily.
He went on: “I’m a firm believer that non-crime hate incidents are no longer required, and that intelligence can be gathered in a different way, which would cause less concern to the public and make recording of such issues much easier.
“We need to separate the offensive from the criminal.”
Sir Andy — speaking ahead of the release of his inspectorate’s annual England and Wales policing report — added: “Crime is down, but the statistics don’t matter when the public don’t feel safe.”
3
3
