Investigating hate crime risks distracting police from their core role of handling emergencies, solving violent crime and burglaries and neighbourhood policing, the head of Britain’s chief constables warned today.

Sara Thornton, head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), told the summit on Wednesday that historical probes into potential crimes committed by dead people and widening hate crime to include misogyny had also had an impact.

She said police were being asked to provide more and more bespoke services that were “desirable” but “the simple fact is there are too many desirable and deserving issues.”

The head of Britain's chief constables cited historic investigations into crimes by dead people as another responsibility that was stretching slim resources even further and questioned their validity.

“Historic investigations are another example of issues that matter very much to some but they undoubtedly take resources away from dealing with today’s crime today,” she said.

“While I understand those who have been harmed seek answers, I remain unconvinced that it is appropriate to commit significant resources investigating allegations against those who have died.”

"Neither investigating gender-based hate incidents nor investigating allegations against those who have died are bad things to do necessarily - they just cannot be priorities for a service that is over-stretched. Giving clarity to the public about core policing is a priority – and it has not received enough attention in recent years."