Tony Blair has put his personal reputation on the line as the government struggles to regain the initiative on crime.

The prime minister this morning chaired the first meeting of a top level crime committee of ministers and police chiefs.

With a brief to cut across Whitehall fiefdoms, Blair instructed the new group to "tackle any obstacles" to David Blunkett's blitz on street crime.

"The important thing to recognise about this morning's meeting was that it was a sensible way of bringing together the various agencies involved in fighting street crime," said the official spokesman.

Labour insiders believe it is crucial that the party regains the political initiative on crime and acts to counter soaring street robbery rates.

The creation of the group, which has the added clout of Blair's personal involvement, was prompted by the need for "immediate short-term solutions" to regain the home secretary's grip on law and order.

"It's long overdue and I make no bones about it. Spasmodic individual efforts have been welcome but unless we put them all together in a jigsaw we won't actually streamline the system," said Blunkett.

The Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir John Stevens, welcomed Downing Street's support for a tougher approach to policing.

"We certainly, from a police point of view, have never had such an important meeting, such a successful meeting," he said.

"This is political support from the very highest levels. With all the secretaries of state there it has been an incredibly successful meeting and I believe that a lot will come of it."

Ministers will be given a brief to "think outside the box" of traditional policing approaches to crime and look at health issues, particularly drug treatment and the issue of school exclusions or truancy, believed to be contributing to rocketing mobile phone theft by 11 to 15-year-olds.

Blunkett said a new tough approach was required throughout the criminal justice system.

"This morning's meeting is about getting people literally on the streets, but with a targeted approach so they are there at the right time, there to pick up the right people and when they are picked up the criminal justice system deals with them quickly," he said.

"And if we need remand so they are in secure accommodation, we make that available. This isn't simply a job for the government, this is about improving policing, it's about the criminal justice system and what happens with the courts."

The home secretary dismissed concerns that crime fighting could be hit in a budget squeeze.

"There is no adversarial, gladiatorial approach to this. We're not in contest with each other for resources. We should put aside the notion that there's a contest between major players and some sort of gladiatorial contest with winners and losers.

"The only losers if we don't resource what we're talking about today will be the British people, not Gordon Brown, myself or any other secretary of state."

Blunkett highlighted the need of tackling street gangs at the level of "culture".

"It's about what we do about truants and those who cause mayhem either when they are not in school or the moment they leave. And of course it's about prevention, intervening with young people at a very early stage," said Blunkett.

The committee, which will meet fortnightly, includes the lord chancellor, Derry Irvine, the education secretary, Estelle Morris, health secretary Alan Milburn, transport secretary Stephen Byers, welfare secretary, Alastair Darling and senior police officers.

The group will meet again next week and Blunkett has warned ministers and police officers that he expects quick results. Measures agreed on Wednesday include:

- Police targeting of "hotspots" with "evidence brought to bear swiftly and systematically to enable early charges to be laid".

- Crown Prosecution Service will give priority to robbery case preparation, in terms of fast-tracking cases, deploying top quality lawyers, and working closely with the police.

- Courts will give priority to robbery cases and if necessary introduce extra sittings to deal with the increased workload.

- Prison and probation services to have plans in place to deal effectively with increased numbers of robbery offenders.

- Schools will to work with the police on truancy sweeps, sharing information and supporting pupils at risk of exclusion through Learning Support Units and Pupil Referral Units.

- Health service providers will ensure drug treatment provision is available and make sure that social services are exchanging information about children at risk.

The Tories attacked the latest initiative as "another quick fix".

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin called instead for "a cultural revolution" in the criminal justice system.

"Another day, another initiative, another summit, another quick fix," he said.

"What we need is a considered, effective and coordinated response, which can bring about a cultural revolution in our police forces and in our criminal justice system."