Time for Jacqui Smith to go?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-107992 7/Violent-crime-22-Home-Office-admits-police-r ecording-offences.html

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said more work needs to be done to tackle violence, including knife crime.

We know this and it seems she also knows , but the question is in her hands, why isn't this work being carried out?

She said news that 13 forces under-reported some of the most serious crimes should not dent public confidence in the crime figures.

The fact that 13 forces have under-reported some of the most serious crimes, has already dented my confidence in the crime figures. She must disclose the forces involved and take the necessary action against them.

Ms Smith said the Government will continue to work to find ways to record the most accurate crime information.

Surely making accurate records isn't 'rocket science', but then maybe it is when we have a goverment that constantly lose the information once it has been recorded.

It is time for this weak Home Secretary to go and replaced by someone who will get to grips with the problem of violent crime.

Have any ABers any thoughts who this person should be?

[Gromit]

From The daily Telegraph last month.

"...in response to a briefing paper given to the Metropolitan Police Authority outlining Home Office changes to the definition of crimes.

Under the changes, police have been told to classify all offences as gun or knife crime when there is a threat with a weapon. Previously, this did not happen if the weapons were hidden.

Similarly, more assaults are to be classified as grievous bodily harm rather than the less serious actual bodily harm when a victim is injured.

In the memo, Det Chief Superintendent Peter Barron said: "The potential increase could be a rise in recorded GBH of 58 per cent, a rise in gun crime of 20 per cent and a rise in knife crime of 15 per cent."

Last year there were 22,151 recorded knife crimes in England and Wales and 9,803 firearm offences.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The issue is about the impact of these changes to recording processes, required of all forces in England and Wales, and not about a rise in actual crime.

"A Home Office spokesman: ``We have always included threats and attempts in gun and knife crime figures but in April 2008 we clarified the definition to include crimes where the victim believes a gun or knife might be used. There is an unprecedented clamp down on knife crime underway through the Tackling Knives Action Programme launched earlier this year and part of this is looking for ways to constantly improve our understanding about crime on our streets.''

So the definitions of crimes have changed. If I was to tell you I had a knife, and take your wallet, that would now be defined as a knife crime and not a robbery.

Jacqui Smith is not a great Home Secretary, but I am sure she will survive this.

[Gromit]

The last two paragraphs were my comment and not part of the Telegraph report, and should not have been in italics.

[Rollo]

She is so wrapped up in her own "spin" it's as if she is an insect enclosed in her own protective cocoon, oblivious to reality.

But that reality will hit her at the next general election - her majority in Reddich is only 2,716.

Expect another "Portillo moment" in Reddich on election night.

[joggerjayne]

She should go back to doing Charlie's Angels.

[Prudentia]

I think the whole rotten lot of them should go, what a shower of third raters,
Gordon (pickpocket) Brown
Jack (the man of) Straw
FatEd Balls
Peter (slimy) Mandelson
I could go on..........
Bring on the next election let's see them all on the dole!

[jake-the-peg]

I think you've missed the 22% drop in gun crime

Sack her!

[BertiWooster]

Prudentia

Please tell us who the bunch of first raters are , that are going to solve crime and bring us to a state of Utopia

[jno]

can you say, without looking it up, who's likely to take her job in a Tory government and how good they are?

[rov1200]

I suppose we can all blame all the extra crime on the recession. And we know that was all Americas fault.

[dinners42]

get rid of human rights, actually do the time for the crime, we are too soft. if you commit a crime in other countries you do the time. all you have to do is say sorry tell them that your mum left you when you were young your dad was an alcoholic and the they let you off !!!!! yes carol vorderman she can count