New Home Secretary aims to calm relationship with police

NEW Home Secretary James Cleverly has pledged to praise the police in public and criticise in private in pointed comments following the sacking of his predecessor Suella Braverman.

Addressing a major policing conference in Westminster yesterday, Mr Cleverly told delegates he would make any criticisms “professionally, calmly, directly”.

Striking a markedly different note to Mrs Braverman, he said: “I will back you when you do the right thing, and I want you to know that I will be critical if I think you need to be critical (sic), but I will always attempt to do so professionally, calmly, directly so that we always maintain that professional working relationship.

“I think you can have a relationship that has challenge, and demands excellence and professionalism, without having to be in a relationship of conflict.

“The two are not inextricably linked. And that is why, you will know for those of you who have worked with me before, my instinct is always to praise in public, to criticise in private.”