The role of the police in any society is one of fundamental importance: to prevent crime, to investigate crimes when they occur, and to ensure that those who commit criminal acts are brought before the courts to face justice. This fundamental mission has underpinned the fabric of British law enforcement for generations. However, in recent years, a troubling shift has emerged—a trend in policing which appears to prioritise the pursuit and investigation of “non-crime hate incidents” (NCHIs) over their core duty to protect citizens from genuine criminal acts.
The situation has reached a crescendo this week with the case of journalist Allison Pearson, who has reportedly been invited for a police interview over a comment made over a year ago. While the police dedicate countless hours to investigating “offensive” or “hurtful” speech, the streets are beset by more pressing issues: shoplifting, violent crime, and open lawlessness. This shift in focus not only undermines public confidence in the police force but also erodes trust in the broader judicial system. When police resources are squandered on chasing speech incidents and perceived insults rather than combatting real threats to public safety, the public inevitably suffers.
Recent months have seen a palpable increase in social disorder since Keir Starmer’s government took the reins, with issues ranging from unchecked protests to a surge in street crimes. Instances of shoplifting, often treated as mere nuisances if the value is below £1,500, are brushed aside without recording or investigation. This neglect is not isolated to petty thefts; cases of street violence, such as assaults, robberies, and even the sight of machete-wielding individuals roaming public spaces, are met with similar apathy. Instead of targeting these grave threats to society, police are, ironically, lambasting citizens who dare to raise concerns on social media about this apparent abdication of responsibility.
It is reasonable to conclude that the focus on NCHIs serves only to polarise discourse further, exacerbating tensions and resentment within society. These initiatives and investigations into non-criminal behaviours sap already stretched resources and embolden criminal behaviour in communities who witness an overstretched police force prioritising “words” over “deeds.” Law-abiding citizens are left unprotected, while those engaging in socially destructive behaviours learn that their crimes may go unpunished.
This two-tier system of policing, where serious crimes are neglected in favour of ideological policing, is unacceptable. It demands not only scrutiny but action. Those who serve as police spokespeople and leaders must know that their performance and priorities are being watched and recorded. There can be no place for policing policies that divide and alienate the very citizens who fund and rely upon them.
The police must be reminded of their primary duty: protecting the public from harm, ensuring justice is done, and maintaining public order. Anything less than this is a betrayal of public trust, and citizens will not stand idly by while this essential institution is steered off course. We demand accountability, transparency, and a rededication to core policing duties. Anything less threatens the very foundations of public safety and social cohesion that the police are sworn to uphold.
A Comprehensive Critique of Modern Policing Priorities: The Mismanagement of Public Safety
The case of Essex Police’s handling of an investigation into a social media post by journalist Allison Pearson exposes an alarming trend in policing priorities. This incident not only highlights a significant misuse of resources but also serves as a case study in the detrimental impact of this shift away from core policing duties. By establishing a “gold group,” typically reserved for critical incidents such as terror attacks, to investigate a year-old social media post, Essex Police have demonstrated an astonishing lack of focus on genuine criminal threats to public safety. This misplaced emphasis on non-crime hate incidents rather than actual criminal acts is both deeply troubling and indicative of a broader pattern of institutional failure.
Misguided Priorities and Institutional Dysfunction
The investigation into Pearson, for allegedly “stirring up racial hatred” through a social media post made in November last year, illustrates how resources can be squandered in pursuit of ideological policing goals. Police officers reportedly visited Pearson’s home without providing details of the post or the complainant, framing this matter as a potential breach of the Public Order Act 1986 and the Malicious Communications Act. Despite the force’s insistence that they have acted properly, their creation of a “gold group” to manage the case starkly underscores the troubling direction in which law enforcement is headed.
The use of such a high-level command structure for a social media incident illustrates how far police priorities have drifted from their primary purpose: protecting citizens from harm and maintaining public order. Councillor Neil Gregory’s sharp characterisation of Essex Police’s actions as “institutional incompetence and dysfunction on an epic scale” is not without merit. When forces prioritise diversity training and speech policing over tackling violent crime, open drug dealing, and serious theft, it signals a profound failure of leadership and purpose.
The Erosion of Public Trust and Safety
The broader implications of this policing approach are far-reaching. Drug-related crime, for instance, remains a serious problem across Essex, with open drug dealing regularly witnessed by residents and yet routinely ignored by police. Documents obtained by The Telegraph reveal that the force often fails to respond to 999 calls reporting drug-related incidents. Instead of deploying resources to confront these pressing public safety concerns, police appear more intent on policing speech and engaging in performative displays of political correctness.
The response from Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Marriner and others in defence of their work is, at best, cold comfort to communities left to fend for themselves. Claims of robust action against drug dealers ring hollow when residents continue to witness open drug transactions and feel the weight of police inaction. These failures undermine trust in law enforcement and leave citizens vulnerable to increasingly bold criminal behaviour.
The Consequences of Two-Tier Policing
The disproportionate focus on NCHIs and the “hurtful” words of journalists like Pearson over violent crime and open lawlessness represents a dangerous descent into two-tier policing. While genuine threats are ignored, citizens are subjected to scrutiny for expressing their views. This imbalance not only leaves communities less safe but also fuels resentment and division, eroding the very social cohesion that police claim to protect.
Law enforcement must refocus its priorities. The public demands—and deserves—a police force that dedicates its resources to preventing crime, protecting communities, and bringing offenders to justice. Anything less constitutes a dereliction of duty.
Holding Policing Leadership Accountable
Those who lead and speak on behalf of the police must understand that their decisions and priorities are under constant scrutiny. The public’s patience is not infinite. Continued mismanagement, misplaced priorities, and failures to deliver on core policing responsibilities will not be tolerated. It is time for a rededication to genuine public safety, free from the distractions of ideological policing and performative gestures.
The public is watching. We demand accountability, transparency, and a commitment to the fundamentals of policing. It is time to restore trust and ensure that the police serve their primary duty: protecting all citizens and upholding the law impartially and effectively. If our policing institutions cannot meet these basic expectations, they risk irrelevance—and the communities they serve deserve far better.
Verbal Alchemy 