Edgbaston incident classed as 'non-crime hate-related'

Cricket365
September 9, 2014

West Midlands Police officials have concluded no crime was committed, after India fans booed England batsman Moeen Ali during Sunday's one-off Twenty20 International against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Ali's father, Munir, suggested the jeering by Indian supporters was racially motivated due to the family's Pakistani heritage. The left-handed Ali was dismissed for a duck and took one wicket in a competitive fixture the hosts won by three runs.

"If further action was to be taken, the victim would need to make a complaint," a police spokesperson told <i>ESPNcricinfo</i>. "While the booing was perceived by the complainant as being racially motivated, booing is not, in itself a crime. Had someone been shouting an offensive term, it would be different."

Spinning all-rounder Ali was key to England's three-one Test series win over the same opposition earlier this year. He clinched a career-best innings haul of six for 67 in the the third fixture at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, which was complemented by fine figures of four for 39 in the penultimate Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

"We have received a hate crime report from an anonymous third party about booing from a number of people aimed at an England cricketer on 7 September, at Edgbaston cricket ground," added neighbourhood policing manager for Birmingham South, inspector Jason Wathes.

"While there could be a number of reasons behind the booing, it has been perceived as racially motivated. We have now fully looked into the matter and decided the most proportionate and appropriate course of action is to record it as a non-crime hate-related incident, in line with the West Midlands Police hate crime policy."