Police have announced significant changes to their approach to handling ‘hate speech’, following advocacy from the Free Speech Union (FSU).
FSU Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling revealed that police will now prioritise policing actual crimes rather than focusing on monitoring opinions, a shift he lauded as a major win for free speech.
The decision comes after the FSU raised concerns about police training that encouraged officers to “recognise, record, and respond” to hate speech. Ayling noted that the training was deemed by FSU as “extrajudicial” and potentially in conflict with the democratic rights of New Zealanders.
In response to these concerns, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster met with FSU representatives and agreed to implement a comprehensive revision of the training framework. Moving forward, the police will align the definition of “hate crime” strictly with issues of physical safety, rather than subjective interpretations of speech or opinion.
“We are thrilled that the NZ Police have seen reason,” Ayling said. “Instead of doubling down, they listened to our concerns, revised the framework, and committed to reviewing every file previously flagged with ‘hate’.”
FSU’s intervention aims to prevent New Zealand police from following the path of some international forces that have faced criticism for perceived politicised policing. The shift, Ayling believes, reaffirms the police’s primary duty to protect citizens while respecting their right to free expression.
Good work by the FSU, we cannot afford to descend into a hellish dystopia like North Korea or (even worse) Britain.
Here’s hoping the cops actually keep their promises, at least until the next Labour dimwit weasels their way in to the PM’s office
Well done!
Police being a Crown corporation follow the Corporate agenda, and the Corporate agenda is still in charge. Would not hold my breath about any reversal to the Corporate agenda, plus I don’t trust any corporate puppet to tell the truth.
Good points there. Yes, lets see if words translate into (in)actions.
Dystopia delayed but you can be sure, sooner or later, one of these mainstream globalist party’s WILL push through hate speech laws. My money is on Labour but I would not be surprised, if the other side, did it too.
The REAL problem then , is people voting for globalist authoritarians, not the police, per se, although you could argue they should say “NO”, to enforcing immoral, unethical laws.