Kemi Badenoch told the Police Federation that officers and the public who intervene to stop wrongdoing should not fear punishment, and criticised the Labour government for not sending a minister to the conference.
01Summary
- 01Badenoch said too often people are 'hounded' for doing the right thing, citing police officers and members of the public who step in to help.
- 02She listed officers killed on duty, including PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, and PC Andrew Harper.
- 03Badenoch criticised the prosecution of Sgt Matthew Blake, who was cleared of murder after shooting Chris Kaba in 2022.
- 04She said Labour has failed to send a minister to the Police Federation conference for two consecutive years.
- 05The prime minister's deputy spokeswoman rejected the criticisms, saying police have the government's full backing and are receiving investment.
02Why it matters
This matters as the Conservative leader is setting out her party's stance on law and order before the next election, directly challenging the government's record on policing.
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