By Jackie Storer BBC News Online, Bournemouth

It was never going to be an easy one to pull off - trying to appease a conference of antagonistic police officers.

As he shuffled into the Bournemouth International conference centre with his faithful hound Lucy, Home Secretary David Blunkett was literally walking in to the lion's den.

Ringing in the ears of his audience were headlines describing officers as "malingerers".

Many were still fuming from what they saw was a rushed pay settlement and a threat to their overtime.

Concessions

The atmosphere was general disquiet.

To the man on the street, there was only one way to deal with the malcontent - only one way to escape alive - and that was to get stuck into a double helping of humble pie.

And that is exactly what Mr Blunkett did.

His speech was peppered with concessions that he had "made mistakes".

He "pleaded guilty" for his shortcomings and said there had been "enough controversy to last me pretty much my time, whatever that might be, in office".

Mr Blunkett says he wants to cut red tape for officers

He even admitted that his cousin David Blunkett, a serving officer, who must have a "terrible, terrible time" having a home secretary as a relative, had gently told him that cutting premium rates of over-time would not win him popularity.

But before Mr Blunkett could even utter a word, he had to withstand a mild duffing up by Police Federation chairman Fred Broughton.

The stout constable, who is set to retire after 35 years service, kicked off the fight claiming the relationship between officers and the government had been badly damaged by leaks to the media that the police were "a bad lot that needed to reform".

Mr Broughton received nods of agreement when he argued: "Suddenly we read that we weren't the heroes we were malingerers with bad backs."

The audience clapped enthusiastically, when Mr Broughton warned: "What general has ever won a campaign by undermining his foot soldiers before a battle?"

The home secretary's nose was bloodied further when he was told how morale was low over proposals to give police powers to community safety officers (CSOs), which Mr Broughton described as a "cut price" alternative to proper policing.

Boxing ring

He received further applause when he appealed: "For the sake of the future of policing, I urge you to drop the idea of CSOs before more damage is done."

The home secretary was warned not to turn away from the anger and bitterness felt by police officers.

"Ignore these feelings at your peril," said Mr Broughton, adding that the service had been "betrayed", while believing that Mr Blunkett's instincts were "in tune with us".

Mr Broughton's speech was rewarded with a one minute standing ovation - impressive, although nothing like the applause received by a New York police officer involved in the 11 September terrorist atrocity who spoke earlier.

He has a battle on his hands if he wants complete police reform

Mind you, if he was in a boxing ring, Mr Blunkett would have been by now semi-punch drunk.

It was difficult not to feel sorry for this inoffensive-looking man.

As he took his place on the podium, Mr Blunkett immediately lightened the atmosphere, attracting chuckles as he joked that his appearance "felt like walking the plank".

He stressed that the police were not "idle or lazy - they are not good for nothing".

He gave sympathy for the conditions police had to work in, for having to put up with outdated technology.

And he tried to buoy the crowd with the announcement of cash for outdated Met Police telephone exchanges and occupational health.

Battle

He was prepared to listen to complaints about the nature of powers to be given to CSOs.

His audience took it in politely, even laughing at his jokes and giving the occasional ripple of applause, but for him there was no standing ovation.

While Mr Blunkett did not need to be carried out of the ring unconscious, it was obvious he had been bruised.

The officers were clearly pleased by his change of tone, but many said the damage to moral had already been done by the home secretary's heavy handed approach to reforms of their pay and conditions.

While Mr Blunkett will be able to fight another day, it was clear from the response to his appearance in Bournemouth, he has a battle on his hands if he wants complete police reform.