Diane Abbott said that “we cannot give the police more responsibility without providing the resources”

Diane Abbott has said she supports making misogyny a hate crime and revealed she yesterday reported a series of “hate-filled” letters threatening rape and violence against her to the police.

Ms Abbott, the shadow home secretary, told police leaders this morning that she favoured a legislation change “because it is the right thing to do to take the most serious action against hate crime”.

Her comments came after Sara Thornton, one of the country’s most senior officers, said that police should focus on tackling burglaries and violent crime rather than worthy issues such as misogyny and historical allegations against dead people.

Ms Thornton, chairwoman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), called for a refocus on “core policing” in response to increasing violence and