A mother has been hit by a "hate incident" police report after her transgender child complained to teachers that she was not using their new name.
Dyfed-Powys Police in Wales recorded the incident as a Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI), despite officers determining no criminal offence had been committed.
Whether police actually visited the mother, or simply logged the information to monitor any potential escalation, remains unclear.
The case emerged as part of a broader probe into how forces across the country were handling incidents before NCHIs were abolished in March, following pressure for officers to prioritise genuine criminal activity.
The investigation by The Sun uncovered police forces throughout England and Wales had documented more than 500 NCHI incidents during September 2025 alone.
That said, the actual number is believed to be considerably higher, as 15 of the 44 constabularies declined to provide information, or claimed the cost of retrieving records wouldn't be feasible.
Among those withholding data was the Metropolitan Police, the country's largest force.
Dyfed-Powys Police disclosed that it had recorded six NCHIs during that period, one of which concerned Welsh flags being displayed on street furniture.
A mother was recorded by police after her transgender child complained to teachers that she was not using their new name
| GETTYWest Yorkshire Police also logged a complaint about English flags being erected, which the complainant deemed "distasteful".
Other cases recorded by forces included an incident in Wiltshire, where a child contacted police after a stranger berated them for using the American term "sidewalk" rather than pavement.
According to police records, the individual allegedly shouted: "You're not in America, speak your language."
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In Bournemouth, a shop customer filed a complaint claiming religious discrimination after being called crazy for exclaiming "hallelujah" in the premises.
The individual told officers he felt "discriminated against for his religious beliefs," with police noting that "the hate box local qualifier has been ticked" in response to the complaint.
Reform MP Robert Jenrick condemned the practice, and said: "It's mad that officers are wasting thousands of hours on this nonsense while crimes like shoplifting and phone theft are out of control."
The abolition of NCHIs in March came amid mounting criticism that officers were devoting significant resources to petty matters, rather than tackling larger-scale offences affecting communities across the country.
Among those withholding data was the Metropolitan Police, the country's largest force
| GETTYThe House of Lords voted to scrap NCHIs by 227 to 221 in an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, barring police forces from recording, retaining or processing data related to NCHIs.
The incidents are still allowed to be recorded if required to prevent or detect a crime.
Free Speech Union chief Lord Young and Lord Hogan-Howe, the former Met Commissioner, put forward the amendment to call for officers to police "streets not tweets".
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the decision to scrap NCHIs, insisting the overhaul means police "have more time to patrol streets and catch criminals."