Jan Berry is the Chairman of the Police Federation, or was. She is stepping down at the end of the conference this year.

She has always put the interests of the Police officers that she represents before any political correctness and has proved that her tenure of the post has been one of honour and courage.

The conference this year has been no different, and in her opening speech, introducing the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, suggested that the Home Secretary's actions are all but criminal.

She stuck the boot into Jacqui Smith good and hard:

At my first conference, I introduced the opportunity to ask questions of the Home Secretary. Although some Home Secretaries have subsequently regretted it – the session has been an important and healthy exchange of views. Home Secretary - I admire your courage. You didn’t have to come here today and I know conference will treat your office with the respect it warrants. I am sure when your Private Secretary reminded you of today’s event you felt like reaching for the nearest stab proof vest - and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves…

… But as you have reassured us, you have moved on from these past indiscretions…
Your recent crimes have been more for the serious fraud office than the drug squad!

You will say that you could not take any risks with inflation by conceding on police pay. But let me ask you this. How was it that the government found 2.7 billion pounds to dig itself out of a tax hole in advance of a by-election but couldn’t find 30 million pounds to honour our pay deal?

And listen to this.

When teachers went on strike, the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary’s response was to say that it would be ‘irresponsible’ to over-ride the settlement recommended by their independent pay review panel. So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ panel deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us.

Home Secretary, what is it that Mr Balls has but you do not…..

Well done Jan. You will be sorely missed.