Tories to focus on crime war

Tory chiefs believe London's violent crimewave can revive their party's fortunes in the capital.

Iain Duncan Smith thinks voters will blame Labour for failing to stop assaults, muggings and anti-social behaviour.

Campaign chief Eric Pickles said: "What is really playing on the doorsteps is crime. Nothing's a close second."

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin will join today's campaign launch for the 2 May borough elections on Croydon's New Addington housing estate, a crime blackspot in a borough the Tories have high hopes of snatching.