Theresa May accused of ‘destroying’ police with reforms

Home secretary Theresa May has been accused of destroying the police reform, while the police federation humiliated May by posing a “criminal” banner behind her while she gave a speech telling the police to stop pretending they are being “picked on”. 

The police are yet to suffer a further 20% budget cut and are in for some of the most drastic reforms in 30 years. She told officers the government is standing firm and that the cuts and the reform are essential. She said: “Policing has to take its share of cuts and for the good of the country we have to see them through.”

While she declared her opinion of what is expected from the reform and that the police should not feel like they are being picked on, a number of officers in the audience held up placards, reading “enough is enough”. 

Paul McKeever was left to speak after May had left, saying: “This is a bad deal for police officers; it’s a bad deal for the service and most of all it’s a bad deal for the British public.” 

May has been accused of destroying the police service that is admired by thousands and replicated throughout the world. Keever said: “Home secretary, we are seeing proposals, things being put in place without infrastructure, that will fundamentally change the dynamics of policing.”

“You cannot expect officers, those who understood the fiscal situation and accepted that some cuts were necessary, to take an unfair share of the cuts and just sit there and be content with their lot.”

It has also been said that other proposals against the police include potential pay cuts for officers who fail the fitness test. 

Last week, thousands of police officers marched into central London to protest against the cuts and the changes to their working conditions. An expectancy of around 30,000 officers was estimated to have marched through central London. 

Matthew Warcup