Shadow Home Office minister’s job not impressive?

It’s Monday morning and I’ve just come across this article in last Friday’s (on-line) The Independent.

In an otherwise good account of the progress of Dr Stella Creasy’s career in the Labour party, author Mr Andy McSmith, describes her job title of Shadow Home Office minister with responsibility for crime prevention as ‘Not very impressive’.

So what is ‘not very impressive’ with someone engaged in the promotion of crime prevention Mr McSmith?  Preventing crime not that important to you?

Falling levels of crime and severe budget cuts have most certainly taken some of the urgency and gloss off the crime prevention message, but there is no doubt that crime prevention campaigns and initiatives promoting home security, better designed cars and personal security have all played a major part in the massive decline of crime over the past 20 years, saving our economy billions.

So it’s unhelpful and frankly irritating when journalists pen silly comments like this at a time when crime prevention needs all the support it can get.

The roles of Minister or Shadow Minister with responsibility for crime prevention are incredibly important and from what I’ve seen, and which Mr McSmith fairly acknowledges, Dr Stella Creasy is doing a pretty good job, recently highlighted by her campaigns concerning domestic violence (One Billion Rising), and unscrupulous payday lenders.

I certainly hope that Mr McSmith’s opinions about this ministerial role are not universally shared.  Perhaps they are; and if so then we’ve got a problem. 

I’m now off to have a little lie down.

The Independent on-line article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/stella-creasy--the-labour-mp-who-has-taken-on-the-internet-trolls-and-payday-lenders-8754945.html

One Billion Rising: http://www.onebillionrising.org/