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POLICE probed a “hate” incident when a woman with an Italian surname claimed her neighbour hung dirty underwear on the line after England lost to Italy in the Euros final.

The record of the incident says: “Offenders have hung a very large pair of soiled underpants on their washing line.

The 'hate incident' took place after the Euro 2020 final between Italy and England
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The 'hate incident' took place after the Euro 2020 final between Italy and EnglandCredit: Getty

“They have been there for over two months.”

Italy won a penalty shoot-out at Wembley in July 2021.

The alleged response — recorded by North Wales Police though no offence had taken place — emerged in a Freedom of Information request.

Gwent Police, in South Wales, logged a case in which a man reported ­someone “calling me Canadian”.

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It was unclear what his nationality actually is.

In Warwickshire, a suspect was recorded for refusing to shake a ­person’s hand, which was “perceived to be hate-related due to gender identity”.

The revelations come after The Sun told how City of London police recorded a “rough haircut” as a non-hate crime.

Other such incidents included a ­complaint in Cambridgeshire after a German woman was likened to a Rottweiler.

In the year to June there were 13,000 non-crime hate incidents recorded — where no crime occurred, but the person reporting felt they were targeted over hostility or prejudice.

Campaigners, former detectives and ­politicians have called for them to be shelved so police can focus on their job.

On Thursday, Essex Police dropped a hate probe into the journalist Allison Pearson over a year-old tweet after turning up at her home on ­Remembrance Sunday.

Chief Constable of Essex Police slammed over Allison Pearson by Julia Hartley-Brewer
Police attended an incident after a complaint related to underwear hanging on a line
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Police attended an incident after a complaint related to underwear hanging on a lineCredit: Alamy
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