Overview

• The Home Office is reviewing police guidelines on recording non-crime hate incidents to balance free speech and public safety.
• Essex Police's investigation into journalist Allison Pearson, for allegedly inciting racial hatred, has drawn criticism from public figures and politicians.
• Critics argue the investigation represents a misuse of police resources and poses a chilling effect on free speech.
• The police have been accused of following Kafkaesque procedures, refusing to disclose details of the complaint to Pearson.
• The incident has reignited debate over the role of non-crime hate incidents in policing and their impact on civil liberties.