The Police Federation has capitulated into accepting proposals for wide-ranging reforms on funding, automatic membership of officers and transparency – following a blistering attack on the beleaguered organisation by home secretary Theresa May.

Speaking at the Police Federation's annual conference in Bournemouth on 21 May, Ms May told stunned delegates the Government was prepared to impose change unless significant progress with implementing reforms laid out by Sir David Normington's recent review into police practices.