Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised punishments for people who intervene to “do the right thing” in a speech at the Police Federation conference.

Telling delegates she was “not scared to wade in”, she called for more support for members of the public as well as police officers who step in to stop wrongdoing.

Badenoch also criticised Labour for failing to send a minister to the conference for two years in a row.

The prime minister’s official deputy spokeswoman rejected the claims, stating the police have the government’s “full backing” and are benefitting from investment. The BBC has contacted the Home Office for comment on ministerial attendance at the police conference.

In a speech at the conference, Badenoch said: “Too often these days, we fail to recognise sacrifice and service.

“Whether it’s hounding brave and elderly veterans through the courts, hounding police officers who try to do the right thing, or even ordinary members of the public who step in to help only to find that they’re in trouble themselves.

“It’s no wonder the people in this country are becoming too scared to wade in, too scared to do the right thing. Well, I am different. I am not scared to wade in, and I am not scared to back the police.”

The Conservative leader listed police officers who have been killed in the line of duty, such as PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough who died in the Cleveland A66 crash, and PC Andrew Harper, killed investigating a quad bike theft.

She also attacked police being investigated following controversial cases, including the case of 24-year-old Chris Kaba, who was shot by Sgt Matthew Blake in 2022 after he tried to ram his way past police cars.

The police officer was put on trial for murder before being cleared, with Badenoch saying his “job was made harder because he didn’t get the backing he deserved”.

Badenoch also attacked Labour, saying: “I think it is telling that for two years in a row, the Labour Government has not sent anyone to address this conference – not the policing minister, not the Home Secretary.

“You are the ones who enforce the law. You are the ones who ensure there are consequences for bad behaviour. That’s why, if we want law and order back in our country, back on our streets, we need to back the police.”

Responding, the prime minister’s official deputy spokeswoman said: “I would reject those claims.

“The police have the government’s full backing and as you will have seen from various reports this morning, we are continuing to invest in our police and we are bringing forward reforms following the Bernard Hogan Howe report in due course.”

The Home Office has been contacted for comment about ministerial attendance at the conference and whether the government is still planning to recruit 13,000 police officers.

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