In November 2023 NUFC supporter, Linzi Smith, was banned from attending matches after the club received complaints about her social media posts, which included tweets expressing gender-critical views about transgender people. She was also interviewed under caution by Northumbria Police and was shocked to learn that a hate crime investigation had been opened against her and that she had been spied upon for many months.

In March this year, responding to legal action initiated by the Free Speech Union on Linzi’s behalf, Northumbria Police issued ‘sincere apologies’ to Linzi for its handling of the case and said, ‘The service provided by Northumbria Police was not acceptable.’

The Police also warned that the number of investigations of people causing ‘offence’ was likely to increase, as high-profile cases of people having a ‘non-crime hate incident’ added to their record continues to rise. According to recent reports, over thirteen thousand NCHIs have been recorded in the last eighteen months, while The Times revealed that even school pupils have had non-crimes recorded against them, sometimes for supposedly offensive comments like saying another pupil smelt ‘like fish.’

Linzi’s legal case continues as she is still waiting for an apology from Newcastle United and is seeking damages as well as wanting her ban reversed.

But what exactly are non-crime hate incidents?  Where did they come from and what are the implications for Free Speech?

Come along to April’s Newcastle Politics in Pubs meeting to hear Linzi’s story and discuss what’s going on with NCHIs and our legal system with Dr Kyri Kotsoglou

The event is free to attend but booking is essential due to venue capacity – please book your place here.

Come and join the discussion

You are warmly invited to join us at The Bridge, Castle Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1RQ (near Central Station) for our next meeting on 8th April at 7pm.