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Theresa May: Police Federation public funding to end Theresa May urges Police Federation reform
(about 2 hours later)
Public funding will be withdrawn from the Police Federation of England and Wales from August, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. Theresa May has urged the Police Federation of England and Wales to reform, or she will enforce change.
Mrs May told the organisation's conference in Bournemouth that government funding had already reduced from £320,000 to £190,000 a year. The home secretary made the demand as she told the federation its public funding would be withdrawn from August.
She said the federation had built up "vast reserves" of cash. The organisation, which represents 126,000 rank and file officers, has faced accusations of bullying and a lack of transparency in its accounts.
Mrs May also told officers to "face up to reality" on the need for reform of the service. A motion for reform was passed at the federation's annual conference after Mrs May's speech.
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. Addressing the conference in Bournemouth, Mrs May said the organisation had to change "from top to bottom".
The federation represents 126,000 rank and file officers in England and Wales. 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 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 was met with silence from the audience.
Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 after a row with police officers who would not let him cycle through the gates of No 10. Government funding had already been reduced from £320,000 to £190,000 a year, the home secretary said, adding that the federation had built up "vast reserves" of cash.
In her speech, Mrs May told delegates that if the federation did not reform she would pass laws to change it. "Show the public that you get it, that you want to take responsibility for the future of policing and you want to work with me to change policing for the better," said Mrs May.
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 also announced 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, instead having to opt in.
The money previously spent on the federation will instead be spent on a new scheme called Police First, aimed at attracting university graduates, she added.
'Make significant progress'
The federation 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.
In her speech, Mrs May urged the federation 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.
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".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."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."