Blair orders new war on crime

Tony Blair, engulfed in criticism over the failed battle against violent street crime, will this week attempt to show that he and his Cabinet can beat the menace.

His move is an admission that the increase in attacks, highlighted in the Evening Standard's Fight Street Crime campaign, is becoming one of the public's top concerns.

The Prime Minister will gather key members of his Cabinet on Wednesday to promise a new drive against the tide of muggings, attacks on drivers in their cars and drug dealing. But he already faces charges that all he is doing is calling yet another No10 summit with no sign that his promises are translating into results.

The criticism grew after Home Secretary David Blunkett said yesterday that he wanted to "reclaim the streets" for law-abiding citizens. Ministers have said that crime overall has fallen in recent years, but that defence looks flimsy amid the massive rise in street offences. The Robbery Reduction Initiative was due to start in July but is being brought forward to next month in what some claim is a sign of panic.

Ten forces, including the Metropolitan Police, will put more officers on patrol, outside schools and targeting weapons and drug dealers. Computerised coordination of information will let them concentrate on blackspots at the times most offences happen.

Courts will be asked to speed up the trial of street robbers. A group of ministers, senior government officials and police chiefs will drive the policies forward.

Mr Blunkett told Sir David Frost yesterday: "There is a feeling in some urban areas that it is not safe to walk the streets. We must reclaim them for decent, lawabiding citizens." His call to move crime-fighting up the government agenda amounted to a plea to Chancellor Gordon Brown to increase Home Office funding.