Police leaders have called for non-hate crime laws to be scrapped and replaced with a more common-sense approach. Non-hate crime incidents are defined as behaviour motivated by hostility or prejudice but which does not constitute a criminal offence. Under the system proposed by police leaders, only the most serious cases would be formally addressed, with incidents instead recorded as antisocial behaviour where appropriate.
The recommendation follows a review conducted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing, which will be submitted to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood.
The review comes after police forces across England and Wales have been inundated with reports of non-hate crime incidents over the past year. This has resulted in significant pressure on already stretched police resources, forcing forces to make difficult decisions about where their time and capacity are best deployed amid rising levels of crime.
Commenting on the report, Janet said:
“I welcome this review from police leaders. Police resources are already stretched thin, and non-hate crime laws have placed additional and unnecessary pressure on forces this year.
With crime increasing in many areas, police officers are needed on the streets tackling serious offences and keeping communities safe.
On top of this, there are serious concerns around freedom of speech. The police should not be put in the position of deciding what constitutes lawful expression. The UK Government must do more to protect freedom of speech while ensuring the police are properly supported to focus on genuine criminality.”
Mae arweinwyr yr heddlu wedi galw am ddileu deddfau digwyddiadau casineb nad ydynt yn droseddau, a'u disodli gyda dull mwy synnwyr cyffredin. Diffinnir 'digwyddiadau casineb nad ydynt yn droseddau' fel ymddygiad wedi'i ysgogi gan elyniaeth neu ragfarn ond nad yw'n gyfystyr â throsedd. O dan y system a gynigir gan arweinwyr yr heddlu, dim ond yr achosion mwyaf difrifol fyddai'n cael eu hystyried yn ffurfiol, gyda digwyddiadau eraill yn cael eu cofnodi fel ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol yn hytrach, lle bo'n briodol.
Mae'r argymhelliad yn dilyn adolygiad gan Gyngor Cenedlaethol Penaethiaid yr Heddlu a'r Coleg Plismona, a fydd yn cael ei gyflwyno i'r Ysgrifennydd Cartref, Shabana Mahmood.
Daw'r adolygiad ar ôl i heddluoedd ledled Cymru a Lloegr gael eu llethu gan adroddiadau o ddigwyddiadau nad ydynt yn droseddau casineb dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae hyn wedi arwain at bwysau sylweddol ar adnoddau'r heddlu sydd eisoes wedi'u hymestyn i'r eithaf, gan orfodi lluoedd i wneud penderfyniadau anodd ynghylch y ffordd orau o ddefnyddio eu hamser a'u gallu wrth i lefelau troseddau gynyddu.
Wrth ymateb i'r adroddiad, dywedodd Janet:
“Rwy'n croesawu'r adolygiad hwn gan arweinwyr yr heddlu. Mae adnoddau'r heddlu eisoes yn gwegian, ac mae deddfau digwyddiadau casineb nad ydynt yn droseddau, wedi rhoi pwysau ychwanegol a diangen ar luoedd eleni.
Gydag achosion o droseddu ar gynnydd mewn sawl ardal, mae angen heddweision ar y strydoedd i fynd i'r afael â throseddau difrifol a chadw cymunedau'n ddiogel.
Ar ben hyn, mae pryderon difrifol ynghylch rhyddid i lefaru. Ni ddylai’r heddlu gael eu rhoi mewn sefyllfa o benderfynu beth yw mynegiant cyfreithlon. Rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU wneud mwy i amddiffyn rhyddid i lefaru a sicrhau bod yr heddlu yn cael cymorth priodol i ganolbwyntio ar droseddau go iawn."
