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Britain’s biggest police force has announced it will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents.
The Metropolitan Police said it hoped the move would provide a “clearer direction for officers”, allowing them to focus on criminal investigations.
The force said incidents would still be recorded for intelligence purposes but officers would not get involved in “policing toxic culture war debates”.
An NCHI is defined as an incident that falls short of being criminal but which is perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person with a particular characteristic.
Police forces are supposed to record them only when there is a serious risk of significant harm that could escalate into criminality, and not just because someone feels offended.
But last year more than 13,000 NCHIs were recorded across England and Wales and campaigners have warned of their chilling effect on free speech.
Although having an NCHI recorded against a person does not constitute having a criminal record, it may show up on an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, potentially affecting their employment prospects.
Mr Linehan welcomed the Met decision but said he still intended to take legal action and sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and interference with his free speech rights.
“With the aid of the Free Speech Union, I still aim to hold the police accountable for what is only the latest attempt to silence and suppress gender critical voices on behalf of dangerous and disturbed men.”