ALL questions from police officers to Theresa May at this year’s Police Federation of England and Wales conference will be shown to the Home Secretary before she takes the stage.

Usually the federation conference has an “open microphone” policy with delegates able to queue up and ask their questions of the Home Secretary after he or she has made a speech.

However all questions this year will need to be submitted first.

Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “I can confirm that our intention is to take questions for the Home Secretary’s session in advance, and she will have the opportunity to view them prior to her session.

“Contrary to what has been reported, this arrangement is not so that we can ‘vet’ the questions, but to ensure that the session produces the most constructive debate possible.”

He added: “Conference represents a unique opportunity for delegates to challenge the Home Secretary first-hand and I believe the revised ‘Question Time’-style format will ensure that the Home Secretary is presented with a broad range of salient and thought-provoking questions.

“While the exact details are yet to be confirmed, I expect that delegates will have until the evening before the session to submit questions.

“I feel we have nothing to lose by offering the Home Secretary a limited amount of time to consider a response to the questions, indeed it would prevent her from saying that she does not have the information at hand to answer a particular question and will provide the opportunity to provide a fuller, more detailed response.”

At last year’s annual concerned, Mrs May, was jeered, booed and was greeted by laughter from assembled police officer delegates as she stated: “Hard working officers should welcome Winsor reforms”.

Mr Williams added in a statement: “I also wish to remind all delegates that the Home Secretary attends Conference as a guest and is under no obligation to do so. While we all feel very valid anger, frustration and discontent as a result of the Government’s police reforms agenda, the behaviour displayed by some towards the Home Secretary at last year’s Conference resulted in a deluge of negative press coverage and did us no favours in the eyes of the public and politicians alike.”

Ian Hanson, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: “I am disappointed by the decision. This event is a chance for hard working police officers to hold the policing powers and policy makers to account for the decisions they are making.”

There is also concern over the reaction to the appearance of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Tom Winsor at this year’s Bournemouth event.

The Fed added: “Arrangements for Mr Winsor’s session are yet to be confirmed.”