Blunkett heads for clash with police

Frontline police officers are heading for a showdown with Home Secretary David Blunkett over his plans to drive up standards in the fight against crime and disorder.

Although latest figures show crime across Britain has fallen to its lowest level for over a decade, police detection rates have slumped and there is a growing conviction in Westminster that arcane working practices inside forces need to be swept away.

Street crime is hitting record levels in London, where Scotland Yard has the worst record in the country for catching criminals. Mr Blunkett will publish his police reform White Paper next Wednesday, paving the way for an extended "police family" of traffic wardens and civilians in uniform to patrol inner-city streets and estates.

Mr Blunkett is determined to force through changes in areas such as shift patterns, sick leave and even pensions. A new police standards unit will be created. He wants agreement on the reforms in return for delivering a record 130,000 officers, cutting red tape, speeding up promotion for the brightest officers and raising the pay and status of community beat bobbies.

The Police Federation has accused the Home Office of trying to deceive its members.