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Riots: Police chiefs angered by Cameron criticism Riots: Sir Hugh Orde denies rift with ministers
(40 minutes later)
  
A row has erupted between police chiefs and the government after David Cameron criticised the number of officers deployed to combat this week's riots. The head of the Association of Chief Police Officers has denied a rift with ministers despite criticism from them of the handling of this week's riots.
The PM also said the wrong tactics were used - while Home Secretary Theresa May said it was her decision to cancel all police leave to boost numbers. Sir Hugh Orde said he had received "outstanding" support from Home Secretary Theresa May and said she accepted officers were not infallible.
Sir Hugh Orde, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said she had "no power whatsoever" to do that. Earlier he rejected suggestions that the restoration of calm across England was due to political intervention.
It was police, not MPs, who had restored order, he insisted. Mrs May had said it was her decision to cancel all police leave.
Acting Met Police Commissioner Tim Godwin said decisions about tactics and numbers were "all police decisions and they were all made by my police commanders and myself". Acting Met Police Commissioner Tim Godwin denied police had been too "timid" in their initial response to the riots on Saturday - but he said decisions about tactics and numbers were "all police decisions".
But he said that "if police officers had the benefit of hindsight as foresight we would obviously do things slightly differently", adding: "We always learn from what occurs." He said that "if police officers had the benefit of hindsight as foresight we would obviously do things slightly differently", adding: "We always learn from what occurs."
London Mayor Boris Johnson gave the Met Police his full backing, saying: "Anybody can have 20/20 hindsight about decisions that could have been taken...[but] let's look at what's going on now... the people who did this stuff are not getting away with it and that is thanks to the efforts of the Metropolitan Police force and others."
Politicians "irrelevant"Politicians "irrelevant"
During an emergency parliamentary debate on Thursday, Mr Cameron told MPs police chiefs had been "frank" with him about what went wrong on Sunday and Monday nights in London and elsewhere. During an emergency parliamentary debate on Thursday, Mr Cameron told MPs "there were simply far too few police deployed on to our streets and the tactics they were using weren't working".
"There were simply far too few police deployed on to our streets and the tactics they were using weren't working," said the prime minister. "Initially, the police treated the situation too much as a public order issue - rather than essentially one of crime," he said.
"Initially, the police treated the situation too much as a public order issue - rather than essentially one of crime."
Mr Cameron returned from holiday on Monday night - a few hours after his home secretary - and called an urgent meeting of emergencies committee Cobra, which included Sir Hugh.Mr Cameron returned from holiday on Monday night - a few hours after his home secretary - and called an urgent meeting of emergencies committee Cobra, which included Sir Hugh.
They might meet around the same table for the government's emergency COBRA meetings in Whitehall.They might meet around the same table for the government's emergency COBRA meetings in Whitehall.
But something of a verbal tussle has broken out between ministers and the police.But something of a verbal tussle has broken out between ministers and the police.
It boils down to a question of competence and who made the crucial decisions earlier this week.It boils down to a question of competence and who made the crucial decisions earlier this week.
The prime minister has criticised the number of police officers deployed in the first few nights of rioting, and their tactics.The prime minister has criticised the number of police officers deployed in the first few nights of rioting, and their tactics.
The Home Secretary has done the same.The Home Secretary has done the same.
Sir Hugh Orde, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, is having none of it.Sir Hugh Orde, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, is having none of it.
He said politicians flying back from their holidays were an "irrelevance" when it came to the shift in the police's approach.He said politicians flying back from their holidays were an "irrelevance" when it came to the shift in the police's approach.
He has denied there is any "rift" between the police and the government.He has denied there is any "rift" between the police and the government.
But the police are clearly irritated they are being publicly blamed for what went wrong, and politicians are trying to claim all the credit for turning things around.But the police are clearly irritated they are being publicly blamed for what went wrong, and politicians are trying to claim all the credit for turning things around.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the prime minister had been "very much in charge" of that meeting.Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the prime minister had been "very much in charge" of that meeting.
Mrs May also told the House of Commons she had spoken by conference call to all police chiefs on Wednesday and "ordered that all special constables should be mobilised, all police leave should be cancelled and the robust tactics used on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Police adopted by all forces dealing with public disorder". Mrs May said she had spoken by conference call to all police chiefs on Wednesday and "ordered that all special constables should be mobilised, all police leave should be cancelled and the robust tactics used on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Police adopted by all forces dealing with public disorder".
But Sir Hugh said the subsequent restoration of calm on Tuesday night was not down to political intervention. But Sir Hugh - who is seen as a leading contender to become the next Met Police commissioner - told the BBC on Thursday that the subsequent restoration of calm on Tuesday night was not down to political intervention.
"The fact that politicians chose to come back [from holiday] is an irrelevance in terms of the tactics that were by then developing," he told BBC Two's Newsnight."The fact that politicians chose to come back [from holiday] is an irrelevance in terms of the tactics that were by then developing," he told BBC Two's Newsnight.
"The more robust policing tactics you saw were not a function of political interference; they were a function of the numbers being available to allow the chief constables to change their tactics.""The more robust policing tactics you saw were not a function of political interference; they were a function of the numbers being available to allow the chief constables to change their tactics."
On Friday, he insisted there was "no rift" with government and said the home secretary had been "quite outstanding frankly".
"She has praised police officers. She understands the complexity of the world in which we live and I think she very clearly understands that we cannot get it right all the time," he said.
"But let's be very clear on one thing - the vital distinction between policing and politics remains. The police service will make the tactical decisions, and quite rightly and robustly, we should and must be held to account [by politicians]."
Police Federation vice chairman Simon Reed said the suggestion that police changed their approach after the government stepped in was "a cheap shot" - and Sir Hugh was "clearly upset".Police Federation vice chairman Simon Reed said the suggestion that police changed their approach after the government stepped in was "a cheap shot" - and Sir Hugh was "clearly upset".
'A slight''A slight'
"It's a slight on the professionalism of the police service and the rank and file because some of the language, some of the tone used, was that they were too timid - almost that they weren't brave enough."It's a slight on the professionalism of the police service and the rank and file because some of the language, some of the tone used, was that they were too timid - almost that they weren't brave enough.
"Rank and file officers will be very upset about those comments because these were unprecedented levels of violence that we saw.""Rank and file officers will be very upset about those comments because these were unprecedented levels of violence that we saw."
Ian Hanson, chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, also said it was "disingenuous of politicians to say that they sorted the problems out".Ian Hanson, chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, also said it was "disingenuous of politicians to say that they sorted the problems out".
Mr Reed said that the issue of planned cuts to the police force - which Labour have said should be abandoned - now needed to be urgently addressed.Mr Reed said that the issue of planned cuts to the police force - which Labour have said should be abandoned - now needed to be urgently addressed.
"If this had happened maybe in a year's time, when we'd have 10 or 12,000 fewer officers, we wouldn't have been able to mobilise police officers around the country because there simply wouldn't be any resilience left.""If this had happened maybe in a year's time, when we'd have 10 or 12,000 fewer officers, we wouldn't have been able to mobilise police officers around the country because there simply wouldn't be any resilience left."
But during Thursday's debate, the prime minister insisted the cuts were "totally achievable" without any reduction in the visible policing presence and said that a "surge" of officers - as seen in recent days - would still be possible in future.But during Thursday's debate, the prime minister insisted the cuts were "totally achievable" without any reduction in the visible policing presence and said that a "surge" of officers - as seen in recent days - would still be possible in future.
On Monday night about 6,000 police officers were on duty on the streets of London, including officers from neighbouring forces.On Monday night about 6,000 police officers were on duty on the streets of London, including officers from neighbouring forces.
That number was increased to 16,000 on Tuesday after mob violence and looting erupted across the capital, with reinforcements from other forces around the country. They will remain in place over the weekend.That number was increased to 16,000 on Tuesday after mob violence and looting erupted across the capital, with reinforcements from other forces around the country. They will remain in place over the weekend.
Speaking to victims of the rioting in Brixton, South London, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I think politicians should be careful about criticising the police, but I think they will learn lessons about their response."
Lose benefitsLose benefits
Police say four other deaths - a man found shot in a car in Croydon and three men hit by a car in Birmingham - may be linked to the recent disorder.
In other developments:In other developments:
The Metropolitan Police has made 1051 arrests since the rioting began on Saturday, and 591 people have been charged. The Metropolitan Police have made more than 1,000 arrests since the rioting began on Saturday, and more than 590 have been charged.
West Midlands Police have arrested 445 people and 178 have so far been arrested in Manchester and Salford. West Midlands Police have arrested more than 400 people and more than 170 have so far been arrested in Manchester and Salford.
Sir Hugh has been seen as a leading contender to become the next Metropolitan police commissioner.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said his comments would raise doubts as to whether he could work alongside the home secretary in that role, should he apply for it.
The riots first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, 29, by police.The riots first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, 29, by police.
Mr Duggan's death is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.Mr Duggan's death is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.