‘Ill-informed’ May attacked after criticism over riots

Mrs May drew a contrast between Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who she said had been out on the streets, and the “unaccountable, unelected and invisible police authority chairmen” in other parts of England.

Her comments angered police authority chairman, including from her own party.

In a letter to Mrs May, the Association of Police Authorities said her comments were either “regretfully ill-informed or wilfully inaccurate” and “unbecoming of a Secretary of State.”

Signed by APA chairman Rob Garnham, a Conservative councillor, and Labour councillor Mark Burns-Williamson, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority, the letter adds: “It has caused not only bemusement but anger amongst police authorities and our partners across the country.

“Quite simply, your allegations are completely untrue and a cursory conversation with the relevant Chief Constables, council leaders or representatives of local media could have confounded it.

“The facts are that not only chairmen, but the full range of diverse police authority members were out listening to communities and reflecting their concerns to the police at the highest levels in meetings across the country. Authorities provided both support and appropriate challenge to forces.

“We worked closely with Chief Constables to ensure that they had all that they needed to police confidently, with full operational independence in defence of the public. Both in public and in private, we simply got on with the job.”

The letter said it was on record that a number of police authority chairmen had cancelled their leave to ensure the police could respond to public concerns.

It said police authority chairmen had agreed mutual aid which had led to other forces sending officers to help to restore order in London. “This was done without fanfare, but quietly, in the national interest.”

The letter, also signed by a Lib Dem and an independent, branded Mrs May’s comments as a “politically motivated attack”.

The Government has said it wants to replace police authorities with elected commissioners who would be more accountable.