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| Theresa May: Police Federation public funding to end | Theresa May: Police Federation public funding to end |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Public funding will be withdrawn from the Police Federation of England and Wales from August, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. | Public funding will be withdrawn from the Police Federation of England and Wales from August, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. |
| Mrs May told the organisation's conference in Bournemouth that government funding had already reduced from £320,000 to £190,000 a year. | Mrs May told the organisation's conference in Bournemouth that government funding had already reduced from £320,000 to £190,000 a year. |
| She said the federation had built up "vast reserves" of cash. | She said the federation had built up "vast reserves" of cash. |
| Mrs May also told officers to "face up to reality" on the need for reform of the service. | Mrs May also told officers to "face up to reality" on the need for reform of the service. |
| The money previously spent on the federation will instead be spent on a new scheme called Police First, aimed at attracting university graduates, Mrs May said. | The money previously spent on the federation will instead be spent on a new scheme called Police First, aimed at attracting university graduates, Mrs May said. |
| The federation represents 126,000 rank and file officers in England and Wales. | The federation represents 126,000 rank and file officers in England and Wales. |
| It has been subject to allegations of widespread bullying and intimidation among its leadership, and was criticised for the way it handled the "plebgate" affair, which led to the resignation of former government chief whip Andrew Mitchell. | It has been subject to allegations of widespread bullying and intimidation among its leadership, and was criticised for the way it handled the "plebgate" affair, which led to the resignation of former government chief whip Andrew Mitchell. |
| Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 after a row with police officers who would not let him cycle through the gates of No 10. | Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 after a row with police officers who would not let him cycle through the gates of No 10. |
| In her speech, Mrs May told delegates that if the federation did not reform she would pass laws to change it. | In her speech, Mrs May told delegates that if the federation did not reform she would pass laws to change it. |
| She urged it to adopt changes recommended by the former top civil servant at the Home Office, Sir David Normington, who called for federation branches to disclose what money was held in secondary bank accounts. | She urged it to adopt changes recommended by the former top civil servant at the Home Office, Sir David Normington, who called for federation branches to disclose what money was held in secondary bank accounts. |
| She said: "Make no mistake. If you do not make significant progress towards the implementation of the Normington reforms, if the federation does not start to turn itself around, you must not be under the impression that the government will let things remain as they are. | She said: "Make no mistake. If you do not make significant progress towards the implementation of the Normington reforms, if the federation does not start to turn itself around, you must not be under the impression that the government will let things remain as they are. |
| "The federation was created by an act of Parliament and it can be reformed by an act of Parliament. | "The federation was created by an act of Parliament and it can be reformed by an act of Parliament. |
| "If you do not change of your own accord, we will impose change on you." | "If you do not change of your own accord, we will impose change on you." |
| Referring to "plebgate" and the findings of the review into the Hillsborough disaster, Mrs May said it was "not enough to mouth platitudes about a few bad apples" in the face of scandals. | Referring to "plebgate" and the findings of the review into the Hillsborough disaster, Mrs May said it was "not enough to mouth platitudes about a few bad apples" in the face of scandals. |
| She also said the Home Office would use its powers to inspect the federation's accounts, and announced that she would be bringing forward proposals to make the organisation subject to the Freedom of Information Act. | |
| And she said officers would no longer automatically become members of the federation, and would instead have to opt in. | |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Mrs May's fifth speech to the federation as home secretary was "by far the most uncompromising", leaving members shocked. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Mrs May's fifth speech to the federation as home secretary was "by far the most uncompromising", leaving members shocked. |
| It was met with silence from the audience. | It was met with silence from the audience. |
| In response, Ian Hanson, chairman of the federation's Greater Manchester branch, said the speech had been a "vitriolic attack not only on the Police Federation but on every police officer in the country". | |
| "Much has been said about professionalism and standards of behaviour in recent times. Today Mrs May went too far and should apologise," he added. | |
| Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "What the home secretary has done is go beyond the Normington review and indeed beyond our recommendations." | Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "What the home secretary has done is go beyond the Normington review and indeed beyond our recommendations." |