04-07-2021, 03:23 AM
Children are warned old tweets could ruin their lives: Backlash as it is revealed police are recording thousands of historic social media posts as non-crime ‘hate incidents’
Children have been warned that old tweets and online comments could harm their career prospects, amid reports police are recording thousands of ‘non-crime hate incidents’.
Figures uncovered by the Daily Telegraph reveal police have recorded more than 2,000 such incidents against those aged 16 and under in the last seven years. Non-crime hate incidents involve reports of ‘hostility towards religion, race or transgender identity’ that are not classed as a crime.
Name-calling between students in a lesson that is not deemed a hate crime could instead be recorded a ‘non-crime’ incident, according to guidance issued by policing chiefs last year. Even if police find no evidence that a crime has been committed, if anyone believes the incident was motivated by hate then officers are obliged to make a record.
These records, which stay on the system for six years, can show up on enhanced DBS checks. And they could ultimately jeopardise a person’s career, even though the individual was not found guilty of, or even charged with, a hate crime.
Today Conservative MP Sir John Hayes told the Telegraph that the figures showed a ‘disturbing trend’, while fellow MP Tom Hunt told MailOnline the rules ‘need to change’.
Read More: Children are warned old tweets could ruin their lives
Children have been warned that old tweets and online comments could harm their career prospects, amid reports police are recording thousands of ‘non-crime hate incidents’.
Figures uncovered by the Daily Telegraph reveal police have recorded more than 2,000 such incidents against those aged 16 and under in the last seven years. Non-crime hate incidents involve reports of ‘hostility towards religion, race or transgender identity’ that are not classed as a crime.
Name-calling between students in a lesson that is not deemed a hate crime could instead be recorded a ‘non-crime’ incident, according to guidance issued by policing chiefs last year. Even if police find no evidence that a crime has been committed, if anyone believes the incident was motivated by hate then officers are obliged to make a record.
These records, which stay on the system for six years, can show up on enhanced DBS checks. And they could ultimately jeopardise a person’s career, even though the individual was not found guilty of, or even charged with, a hate crime.
Today Conservative MP Sir John Hayes told the Telegraph that the figures showed a ‘disturbing trend’, while fellow MP Tom Hunt told MailOnline the rules ‘need to change’.
Read More: Children are warned old tweets could ruin their lives