Reeves hits out at police probing 'hate incidents' at primary schools

Rachel Reeves has hit out at police probes into children throwing playground insults at each other.

The Chancellor insisted officers should be making the 'best' use of their time as she was asked about supposed 'hate incidents' in schools. 

Details revealed under freedom of information rules showed a nine-year-old child was among the youngsters who have been looked at by police. 

Officers recorded incidents against the child, who called a fellow primary school pupil a 'retard', and against two schoolgirls who said another student smelled 'like fish'.  

Requests by The Times to forces found that they were among multiple cases of children being recorded as having committed non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). 

NCHIs are meant to be recorded for incidents 'clearly motivated by intentional hostility' and where there is a genuine risk of significant escalation, government guidance says. 

Incidents in classrooms that do not amount to crimes are not meant to be recorded. 

Asked during interviews today whether such probes were 'a ridiculous use of police resources', the Chancellor told GB News: 'I agree with you. 

'And that's why we've committed to ensure that there are 13,000 neighbourhood police officers and community support officers in our local areas, ensuring that our town centres and our high streets are safe, and that people feel that they can go out in the evenings and feel safe in their local communities.

'That's the priority for police in Britain, and that's the priority of this Labour government. I don't think that that is the best use of police time.'

The comments came amid a debate on free speech after journalist Allison Pearson is being investigated by police over a post she made on social media a year ago. 

The award-winning writer told The Telegraph that officers turned up at her door and said 'I was accused of a non-crime hate incident. It was to do with something I had posted on X a year ago. A YEAR ago? Yes. Stirring up racial hatred apparently'.

Newly collected data shows the recording of NCHIs is widespread - with critics questioning whether the investigation of non-crime hate incidents is an appropriate use of police resources, especially in cases regarding children.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary and former policing minister, said: 'These examples are obviously totally absurd. 

'Pursuing these sorts of incidents is a total waste of police time - they should be concentrating on criminals. It risks having a chilling effect on free speech, one of the fundamental values of this country.'