The true cost of fake hate crimes

Some years ago I was introduced to one notion of how to tackle dishonest and insincere accusations of racism. It was not just that there should be a social cost to making a dishonest claim, but that the cost should equal that borne by somebody who is accurately and correctly identified as a racist. Without such a disincentive there is no reason (other than decency and honesty, which may sometimes be in short supply) for people not to level such accusations insincerely in order to beat away any and all critics.

Since Monday night I have been wondering, amid much else, whether some similar aspiration could be encouraged regarding hate crimes.

In recent days and weeks there has been much comment on the case of Jussie Smollett. He is of course the actor from ‘Empire’ who last month claimed that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack when two men leapt on him outside a branch of Subway in the early hours of the morning.