The politician - appearing at a police conference in front of 1,000 delegates - remained stony-faced as she was berated by the leader of rank-and-file police officers over her decision to stage a 2.5% pay award.

She also looked uncomfortable as she was ridiculed about her admission that she used cannabis in her youth.

Police Federation chairman Jan Berry said: "Your recent crimes have been more for the serious fraud office than the drug squad."

The Home Secretary at first smiled at the comments but her expression soon became rigid.

Mrs Berry praised the politician for facing the conference, but added: "I am sure...you felt like reaching for a 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."

The long-running row over pay peaked in January as an estimated 22,000 officers marched on Westminster after the decision to stage a 2.5% pay rise, effectively reducing the overall award to 1.9%.

At the Police Federation annual conference in Bournemouth, one delegate shouted at the Home Secretary: "Give us our money."

Federation leader Mrs Berry went on: "Your decision not to honour the pay award was a breach of faith. It was a monumental mistake, and you betrayed the police service."

"How was it that the Government found £2.7 billion to dig itself out of a tax hole in advance of a by-election but couldn't find £30 million to honour our pay deal?"