‘A disaster for disabled people’: Shabana Mahmood urged not to scrap recording of non-crime hate incidents

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to scrap the category of non-crime hate incidents in England and Wales, which are perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards people due to certain characteristics but do not meet the threshold of a criminal offence. Researchers and campaigners warn that stopping the recording of these incidents would be "a disaster for disabled people", as it would lose vital intelligence on lower-level abuse that can escalate into more serious hate crimes. Disabled individuals often experience daily instances of abuse, such as neighbours banging on doors or engaging in aggressive behaviour, which can lead to stalking, harassment, and violence. The category was previously deemed not fit for purpose after high-profile cases led to concerns about freedom of speech. Mahmood aims to focus police efforts on "the day job", but campaigners argue that this would leave agencies without crucial data.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories