Home Secretary Out Of Touch On Crime - Teather

3.41.00pm GMT Mon 21st Jan 2008

Local MP Sarah often walks home late at night from Willesden tube

Local Liberal Democrat Brent MP Sarah Teather has criticised Labour's record on crime after Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "too scared" to walk around London alone at night.

After 10 years of a Labour Government, the Home Secretary initially admitted that London's streets were too dangerous for women to walk alone at night. Then her aides backtracked to say she was willing to go out at night and had recently bought a "kebab in Peckham". But the owner of the takeaway came forward to reveal Ms Smith had in fact visited the kebab shop with a bodyguard.

Asked why she would not feel safe on London's streets at night, the Home Secretary replied: "Well, I just don't think that's a thing that people do, is it, really?"

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"People in Brent will be alarmed to hear just how out of touch Labour's Home Secretary is. The reality is that most young women don't have a cocooned ministerial car with a couple of policemen on hand. They have to walk home from the tube or bus because they can't afford to take a taxi.

"I often walk home from Willesden Green tube late at night after late votes in Parliament. I used to feel safer when the police station was open 24 hours a day, but especially when it is really late, the High Street can feel more threatening now that we don't have a continuous police presence.

"After ten years of Labour this is an astonishing admission of Government failure. Instead of trying to spin her way out of the controversy, Jacqui Smith should focus her attention on giving local police the resources they need to keep people in Brent safe."

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