The new home secretary, David Blunkett, has set out his priorities to his department's 3000 staff.

Blunkett said the department was now "in an ideal position" to build on the progress of the last four years.

The home secretary said the aim for the next four years was to "transform the lives of individuals and communities who face continuing disadvantage, division and conflict".

Blunkett revealed that key initiatives, such as tackling "yob culture" would remain at the top of his hit list.

"Inevitably, the first priorities for me and the new ministerial team will be preventing crime - particularly violent crime, building safer communities and clamping down on thuggish behaviour. This applies whether it is in our communities or tackling international trafficking in drugs, people or arms," Blunkett said.

He set out the broader aims for the department and echoed Tony Blair's Downing Street pledge to achieve more, faster to meet public expectations.

"In order to create cohesive communities, we need to ensure that we have practical and rational immigration and asylum policies that work. The three Ds will be absolutely critical: delivery, delivery, and delivery," Blunkett said.