'Boris Johnson is the wettest man to stand under an umbrella': Prime Minister leaves viewers bemused as he gets soaked in a downpour...despite holding up a brolly

Boris Johnson left viewers unimpressed today after appearing drenched in a TV interview - despite holding an umbrella. 

The Prime Minister braved the rain as he visited Surrey Police headquarters in Guildford this afternoon to launch the government's new Beating Crime Plan. 

He promised to extend the use of 'chain gangs'  and also relax all restrictions on controversial Stop and Search powers. 

However, despite speaking to the media about his crime bill, it was Mr Johnson's sodden appearance that triggered the most chatter. 

The PM was holding an umbrella above his head as he spoke but it appeared to have no effect, with his shoulders and the top of his suit soaked through. 

His hair also appeared to fall victim to the elements, sweeping across his forehead as he spoke. 

The sight was mocked on social media, with one viewer remarking: 'Boris Johnson seems to be the only person alive who gets even wetter when holding an umbrella in the rain.' 

Boris Johnson braved the rain as he visited Surrey Police headquarters in Guildford this afternoon

However, despite his umbrella, the Prime Minister appeared drenched during his visit

Another said: 'Most Boris Johnson thing ever - gets interviewed outdoors in heavy rain and doesn't even know how to use an umbrella to keep rain off.'

While a third wondered: 'Just seen Boris on @BBCNews in the pouring rain, holding his own umbrella & getting soaked.

'Is there nowhere for the poor sod to stand in the dry?' 

And a third asked: 'Is there a hole in his umbrella?' 

It was a frosty reception for the PM at Surrey Police headquarters also, with Surrey Police Federation criticising the visit, just days after most officers were hit with a pay freeze.

'Our colleagues should not be used as public relations pawns by politicians,' said chairwoman Mel Warnes.

'I very much doubt any of our colleagues will be smiling at the thought of meeting two people who have decided against giving them any sort of pay rise despite everything police officers across the country have done these past 18 months.

'Police officers have given everything. The Government has given us nothing.

'Frankly, their visit is not welcomed by, I am sure, the majority of hard-working police officers.'

But Mr Johnson defended the resources being put into policing despite the spending restraint needed due to the coronavirus crisis.

'When I stood on the steps of Downing Street two years ago I said I wanted another 20,000 officers on the streets of our country,' he told reporters.

'We are now almost half the way there. We are putting £15.8 billion into supporting our police.

'But of course it's been a tough time financially for the whole country.'

The PM was mocked on social media, with one viewer remarking: 'Boris Johnson seems to be the only person alive who gets even wetter when holding an umbrella in the rain'

It was a frosty reception for the PM at Surrey Police headquarters also, with Surrey Police Federation criticising the visit, just days after most officers were hit with a pay freeze

In his speech, the PM promised the wider use of public 'chain gangs' to tackle yobs as he defended his approach to law and order in the face of police anger over a pay freeze. 

The Prime Minister said he is keen to tackle problems with low level disorder, which he acknowledged could have a major impact on victims.

He said the coronavirus lockdown 'has driven some anti-social behaviour' and promised to tackle it.

'Somebody's anti-social behaviour may be treated as a minor crime but it could be deeply distressing to those who are victims,' he said.

'If you are guilty of anti-social behaviour and you are sentenced to unpaid work, as many people are, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be out there in one of those fluorescent-jacketed chain gangs, visibly paying your debt to society.'

Prime Minister's crime blitz: The key proposals revealed today 

The wider use of Stop and Search is controversial because of concerns that it disproportionately affects black and minority ethnic communities.

But Mr Johnson insisted it is not a 'strong-arm' tactic and it has the backing of parents.

Section 60 powers give officers the right to search people in a defined area during a specific time period when they expect serious violence, and officers can look for weapons before they can be used, or those used in a recent attack.

The Prime Minister said: 'I think that giving the police the backing that they need in law to stop someone, to search them, to relieve them of a dangerous weapon - I don't think that's strong-arm tactics, I think that's a kind and a loving thing to do.

'The people who often support Stop and Search most passionately are the parents of the kids who are likely themselves to be the victims of knife crime.'

Campaign groups have criticised the Government's plans for not doing enough to tackle the root causes of crime.

Human rights organisation Liberty had said easing the restrictions on Stop and Search would 'compound discrimination' in the UK.

The strategy includes plans for league tables for forces' 101 and 999 call-answering times, a national online platform to allow the public to contact police, and efforts against county lines drug gangs to be intensified.

It also includes a £17 million package to persuade young people who go to an emergency department with a stab wound or have contact with police to stay away from violence.

But Iryna Pona, policy manager at the Children's Society charity, said intervention should take place long before young people end up in hospital.

She added: 'We want to see a long-term plan for investment in early help for children at the first signs that they are vulnerable to being groomed.'

Mr Johnson's reforms for England and Wales will also see the extension of a pilot announced earlier this year which involves burglars and thieves being made to wear GPS tags on release from prison.

The strategy will also trial the use of alcohol tags - which detect alcohol in the sweat of the wearer - on prison leavers in Wales in a bid to reduce alcohol-related crime.