Hampshire Police Federation invites James Cleverly out on the Beat

The new Home Secretary has been invited on the beat with Hampshire’s front line to hear first hand about the issues facing officers.

James Cleverly took up the post earlier this month replacing Suella Braverman. She has now returned to the back benches and will spend her time serving Hampshire as Fareham’s MP.

Zoë Wakefield, Hampshire Police Federation Chair, said: “I would like to get the new Home Secretary out and about to actually talk to officers on the front line about what does work and what doesn’t, so that he can then take forward the things that he can influence and the things that he can change.

“He needs to hear it from the people on the ground doing the job. He can come and speak to the federations because we can tell him what we’re being told, but the best thing for him to do is to just get out and meet officers and speak to them, because they’ll be honest with him.”

Speaking about the previous incumbent, Zoë added: “I’m just extremely disappointed that in the role that she was in she did not support officers. She didn’t support the police and she didn’t support us in what we’re trying to do. She did make a few comments that she did support us – that we were wonderful – at the Bravery Awards and so on, but she clearly didn’t mean any of them, did she? I was just so disappointed in her.”