London police issue new ‘hate crime’ guidelines: evidence of ‘hate’ is ‘not a requirement’
The London Metropolitan Police released new guidelines for defining “hate crimes” within their jurisdiction, and their broadness has sparked renewed fear over authorities crossing the line from policing crimes to persecuting thought. The guidelines state that hate crimes motivated by “disability, gender identity , race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other perceived difference” need not be physical crimes in the traditional sense, but may include “using offensive language” about “who you are,” whether spoken in person or posted online. Moreover, the guidelines do not state objective criteria for determining whether “prejudice” motivated an action. It need only be simply “perceived” as such by the victim, a third party, or a police officer. In fact, the police expressly declare that “[e]vidence of the hate element is not a requirement.” In addition to straightforward examples of criminal conduct, such as physical assault or incitement to violence, the guidelines de