The report proposed sweeping changes and indirectly called into question the reliability of the police in a major emergency.

After adverse reactions in the press and questions in Parliament, the Home Secretary Sir John Gilmour stated that Trenchard's report would be published as a white paper, giving MPs an opportunity to debate the issues.

The first two clauses of the Bill, which proposed to increase the number of assistant commissioners from four to five and lower the age of retirement for senior officers, did not prove too controversial.

However, the clauses which set out limitations on membership of the Police Federation were hotly debated and characterized by left-wing politicians as "fascist".

Additionally, the proposed introduction of ten-year employment terms for some new constables was met with considerable opposition.