Former Tory MP Steve Baker has lambasted "outrageous" new figures after a report found that tens of thousands of hours have been spent dealing with "non-crime hate incidents".
The report, conducted by the Policy Exchange think tank, found that non-crime hate incidents consumed 60,000 hours of police time annually.
The report concluded: "The Government should legislate to abolish, in its entirety, the recording of NCHIs (non-crime hate incidents) by the police.
"'Should the Government choose to retain the NCHI regime, they should issue an updated code of practice which leads to a substantial reduction in the number of NCHIs recorded – increasing 'freedom of expression' protections and reducing the distraction of police officers from their core mission of fighting crime."
Steve Baker says new policing figures show the UK has 'lost the plot' on non-crime hate incidents
GB News / Getty
Reacting to the figures, former Conservative MP Steve Baker told GB News that the use of police time on these incidents is "outrageous" and officers have "got better things to be doing".
Baker fumed: "We've completely lost the plot with people having a knock on the door over non-crime incidents.
"It's one thing for the police to record things for the purpose of intelligence, but it's another when they then release them, when somebody enquires for a background check."
Highlighting the recent case of journalist Allison Pearson, Baker explained: "It's absolutely wrong and a complete waste of police time for it to take place.
New figures have revealed that 60,000 hours of police time were spent on non-hate crime incidents
Getty"For Allison Pearson, getting on for a year after the tweet, it's really damaging the reputation. Two coppers knocking on her door - they have got better things to be doing, it's outrageous."
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Criticising the system, Baker claimed that because policing was nationalised by Sir Robert Peel, it now means ministers have "lost control" of how officers go about their duty.
Baker stated: "The problem now is we've effectively got a single national set of rules through the police chiefs council. And that's got to change, because ministers have lost control of the way police officers go about their duty.
"So the police now come up with their own policies for how to go about policing, and really that is the business of ministers. And unfortunately Operation Independence has escaped all reason.
"And that's really, I think, where it originates - the police get to make their own mind up about what priority to give to knocking on doors over tweets, and it's gone crazy."
Steve Baker claimed the police have their 'own policies for how to go about policing'
GB News
A Number 10 spokesman said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was clear that the police should be spending their time protecting the public and keeping streets safe.
They said: "When it comes to those incidents, we’ve also said that it’s vital we carefully consider how we balance the fundamental right to free speech and how police can gather information where relevant.
"We’re looking at how we can best ensure this is the case and will set out next steps in due course."
