Police Minister is a tough gig: focusing on social issues leads to 'soft-on-crime' criticism while going too hard can look like populism.
With four ministers in eight months it's ended up a hot-potato portfolio for Labour, and the latest appointee Ginny Andersen has only been in Cabinet since February - raising a few eyebrows.
She evidently wanted the role and says she's more than capable of steadying the ship, but the law-and-order focused opposition will be eager to test her mettle in an election year: she will have her work cut out for her.
In this week's Focus on Politics Political Reporter Giles Dexter assesses how police has proven so challenging for Labour, and the prospects of its latest appointee.
Another breach of the Cabinet Manual by Stuart Nash, who was removed from the police portfolio yesterday, is prompting further calls for him to lose his other roles.
The opposition is demanding the police minister resign over criticising a judge's decision and discussing with the police commissioner whether it would be appealed.
The opposition is demanding the police minister resign over criticising a judge's decision and discussing with the police commissioner whether it would be appealed.