Tuesday briefing: Why everyone’s suddenly worked up about ‘non-crime hate incidents’

In today's newsletter: A police visit to a Daily Telegraph columnist about a tweet unleashed a barrage of coverage - but the story is more complicated than it appears

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Good morning. A journalist visited by police over an erroneous tweet. A barber accused of racism over a dodgy haircut. And someone in Warwickshire reported for refusing to shake hands. These are some of the examples cited in recent days in an escalating media storm over non-crime hate incidents" recorded by police.

The problem, frequently laid at the door of the woke mob, is so catastrophically vexing that former Conservative MEP and Daily Telegraph columnist Daniel Hannan declared it evidence of the bleak reality of our DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] police state". Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, has now said that the police should apply a common sense and consistent approach", an apparent nod to the criticisms of how the system works. And there are some reasonable objections to the status quo. But there are also important reasons for its existence that have very little to do with haircuts or handshakes.

Unemployment | Teenagers will get training at the Premier League, Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4 in a government drive to get hundreds of thousands into jobs or education. The scheme is part of a suite of changes to the welfare system and out-of-work support being announced today.

US politics | Donald Trump said on Monday he would sign an executive order imposing a 25% US tariff on products from Mexico and Canada. He said the tariffs would only be lifted if Mexico and Canada clamp down on migrants and illegal drugs crossing the border, and promised an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports.

Storm Bert | Forecasters, environment officials and politicians have been criticised over the warnings issued before Storm Bert and the fitness of flood defences to cope with increasingly common extreme weather. The Met Office defended its work, saying that the storm was well forecast, 48 hours in advance".

Regulation | Britain's financial sector watchdog is incompetent at best, dishonest at worst", according to a damning report by MPs and Lords which called for a big shake-up. An examination of the Financial Conduct Authority found very significant shortcomings" after a series of financial scandals.

Health | Weight-loss drugs can reduce the risk of worsening kidney function, kidney failure and dying from kidney disease by a fifth, according to a study. Compared with placebo, GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic reduced the risk of kidney failure by 16% and the worsening of kidney function by 22%,

Victim-led hate reporting has had significant and important positive impacts for police, and communities, in diagnosing harm, extremism, and failing integration or community-cohesion efforts ... We all know that recording rules can be complex, but they should not be a concern to a victim at their time of distress."