David Blunkett has stamped his authority as the new home secretary by signalling that he will be just as hardline as his predecessor.

One of the winners in today's bill bonanza - with four bills - is the Home Office which has put itself on a collision course with civil rights lobbyists.

A new Proceeds of Crime Bill will enable the police to seize assets of people convicted of crime but who cannot account for their possessions.

"The Proceeds of Crime Bill would seek to tackle large scale organised crime and to prevent the proceeds of crime from remaining with the perpetrators, which has in the past enabled them to reinvest in further crime," said Blunkett.

Repeat offenders will also be targeted by new laws, provoking criticism from prison reformers.

"Most persistent offenders have problems such as alcohol and drug dependence, homelessness and mental illness. You cannot punish them into living better lives. We need a more imaginative approach," said Frances Crook, director of the Howard League.

However, the government is determined to press ahead with its programme. "Our agenda for the next session is clear. Tackling crime is our top priority. To do that we need a modern criminal justice system with the tools to do the job. Modernisation, both of the criminal justice system and the police will form a key part of that," said Blunkett.

"At the heart of our proposals is a determination to link improvements in the prevention and detection of crime with the reform of the Criminal Justice System. The Criminal Justice Bill would begin the reform of sentencing and procedures. It would tighten up the law governing bail and make it possible to retry someone who has been acquitted of murder where there is compelling new evidence of guilt," he said.

Measures aimed at reforming employment practices in the police through the Police Reform Bill will include tightening procedures for early retirement on medical grounds.

The Bill will tackle the so-called "Spanish practices" which is resulting in significant regional variations in the number of retirements on the grounds of ill-heath from police forces around the country.

"I want to enable the police to deliver a professional, well managed and well trained service to the communities they serve. Much of this improvement can be achieved without legislation, but where it is needed we will reinforce negotiated change with measures to ensure radical improvements. The Police Bill would take forward the necessary legislative changes that will help the service tackle crime in the 21st century," says Blunkett.