Suella Braverman replaces Priti Patel as Home Secretary

Ms Patel, who had held the post since 2019, resigned on Monday following the election of Ms Truss as the new Conservative Party leader.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said he looked forward to working with Ms Braverman and “building a strong relationship as we continue to address the prominent issues across policing for our communities”.

He also thanked Ms Patel and wished her “all the best in her next endeavours”.

Ms Braverman has served as Attorney General since February 13, 2020. She was also previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the EU from January to November 2018.

Following her appointment, Ms Braverman Tweeted: “Great to be at at the Home Office this evening to meet the team as we begin our work: making our streets safer, supporting our security services and controlling immigration.”

The Conservative MP for Fareham became the first person to launch a leadership bid to become the next Prime Minister before being knocked out of the race and deciding to back Ms Truss.

The 42-year-old was made the Government’s most senior lawyer in February 2020, taking the role of Attorney General amid Boris Johnson’s growing battle with the judiciary.

During this time she became the first Cabinet-level minister to take maternity leave after special legislation had to be passed by Parliament to allow her to take time away from her ministerial duties.

The MP for Fareham in Hampshire since 2015, Ms Braverman studied law at the University of Cambridge, before gaining a masters at the Sorbonne in Paris. She also qualified as an attorney in New York and was called to the Bar in Britain in 2005, specialising in public law and judicial review.

From 2010 to 2015 she was on the Attorney General’s Panel of Treasury Counsel. She has defended the Home Office in immigration cases, the Parole Board in challenges by prisoners and the Ministry of Defence in matters relating to injuries sustained in battle.

The Police Federation for England and Wales (PFEW) said it will be seeking an “urgent meeting” with the new Home Secretary.

It has written to Ms Braverman to make clear the “financial and work pressures” of its 139,000 members across England and Wales.

In a statement, the PFEW said: “While acknowledging the steps being discussed by the new government to help everyone with increasing food, fuel and utility costs, PFEW told the new Home Secretary that it is totally unacceptable that police officers have seen a 25 per cent real term pay cut during the last 12 years, particularly given that, unlike other workers, their unique status means they cannot take any form of industrial action.

“While the Police Uplift Programme to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers was welcome, so far just over 13,000 have been recruited and it takes time to develop the skills needed for the demands of the job.

“With an average 7,000 police officers resigning or retiring each year, the police service is haemorrhaging those who have experience; and we know that poor pay has been a key reason in those officers moving on.”

It added: “Police officers want to see positive action and support from the new Home Secretary, not just warm words and platitudes. From a recent poll of 30,000 officers, 93 per cent said they feel disrespected by the Government.

“The change of Prime Minister and Home Secretary is a chance for Government to put that right.

“The Home Secretary must ensure officers have a proper welfare provision, correct, practical equipment and enough uniform and detective colleagues to ensure they are not run ragged and can provide the public the level of service they want to.

“Policing needs long-term and sustained funding, not year on year settlements alongside fair pay and conditions of service that properly reflects their unique status and the difficult, demanding job they do, as well as the dangers they face.

“From her time as Attorney General, the new Home Secretary will be aware that the changes to the guidance on disclosure for the Crown Prosecution Service has resulted in officers spending inordinate amounts of time caught up in unnecessary red tape.

“This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency and PFEW seeks the Home Secretary’s support to help make change to allow officers to get back on the streets and able to better help victims of crime.”

In the letter, the PFEW has called for an urgent meeting with the new Home Secretary to discuss these matters and offer guidance on how government can demonstrate its support for policing.