A criminal exercise in spin

In the midst of the media storm surrounding the Government's decision to nationalise Northern Rock, it may have escaped your notice on Monday that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans to "reduce serious violent crime by 2011."

This, I remind you, is a Labour Government that's been in power for almost 11 years.

Why has it taken so long to come up with such a plan and why will it take another three years before we are likely to see any positive results?

Might it be anything to do with the fact that Labour Ministers, embarrassed by the continuing surge in violent offences, are trying to desperately to kick the issue into the long grass until after the next General Election?

You would not have to be much of a cynic to reach that view.