Enforcing political correctness undermines public confidence in the police, the Home Secretary has said.
Suella Braverman KC MP criticised Leicestershire Police for misrepresenting the law on ‘hate crime’ in a tweet advising trans people to report the deliberate use of their ‘pre-transition’ name — so called ‘deadnaming’.
Last month Braverman told senior policing figures across England and Wales to focus on tackling crime instead of promoting diversity initiatives.
Trans campaign
To mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW), Leicestershire Police launched a campaign encouraging members of the public to report hate crime via its dedicated website, Stamp It Out.
The initiative featured the image of man called ‘Jane’ alongside the words: “I get called by my previous male name on purpose, but that’s not who I am.
“It can be really hurtful, especially when it’s just seen as a joke.”
Police ‘confusion’
Braverman responded on Twitter: “This week I have seen confusion amongst police forces about what constitutes a ‘hate crime’. The police need to enforce actual laws & fight actual crimes.”
She added: “The public need to have confidence in their police forces. This sort of thing undermines it. Senior police officers who allow this to happen can expect to have to explain to me why they’re spending vital resources on politically correct campaigns.”
Following the intervention of the Home Secretary, Leicestershire Police deleted the tweet.
Correction
Devon and Cornwall Police was also corrected after tweeting that hate crime “can be any criminal or non-criminal act” including “name calling” or “online abuse using social media”.
Rebutting the claim, a former Minister of Justice and King’s Council Lord Wolfson of Tredegar tweeted: “No. Let’s get this clear, @DC_Police because it’s important.
“Hate crime has to be an act which is a crime, ie which amounts to a criminal offence. The crime is then aggravated by the hate. Non-criminal acts may be offensive, inappropriate or unwelcome. But they’re not crimes.”
No. Let’s get this clear, @DC_Police because it’s important.
Hate crime has to be an act which is a crime, ie which amounts to a criminal offence. The crime is then aggravated by the hate.
Non-criminal acts may be offensive, inappropriate or unwelcome. But they’re not crimes. https://t.co/Jb030TDmSJ
— David Wolfson (@DXW_KC) October 8, 2022
Suella Braverman resigned as Home Secretary on Wednesday 19 October.
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