Business has a key role to play in "building civil society" and should provide frontline volunteers for the war on crime, the home secretary has told the CBI.

Calling on bosses to do their bit to combat crime and disorder, David Blunkett pledged government support for employers who encourage volunteering and active citizenship among their workforce.

Highlighting the importance to business of fighting crime, he urged industry chiefs to release more employees as police "specials".

"Building a safer society based on strong communities is in the interests of business as well as government," he said.

"That's why I would like employers to consider releasing their employees more often and giving them paid leave to work, for example, as a special constable."

Speaking to the annual general meeting of the Confederation of British Industry on Tuesday - Blunkett said that now was the time for action - not words - to rebuild Britain's communities.

"I would like the CBI and employers to work closely with government, the police and others on ensuring we get this right.

"At the same time, government itself needs to do more to encourage its employees to be active citizens - we sometimes need to lead by example, not just preach."

Both Blunkett and Gordon Brown are set to launch a discussion paper "on fiscal and other changes we can make to promote community services" as government mobilises the population in its fight against social disorder.

Blunkett told the CB, that volunteering was not only good for society but benefited the bottom line too.

"Business can also gain from the skills its employees can develop by participating actively in civic life, such as serving as a magistrate, a school governor, or a special," he said.

"These roles help employees develop self-confidence, management, problem-solving and self-motivation skills - all of which will benefit their employer."

Drumming up support for an "experience corps" of older citizens, the home secretary urged those leaving the workforce not to be too retiring.

"Business can help the community when employees are approaching retirement and looking for opportunities to contribute," he said.

"I want to listen to the best way government and business can work together to ensure the community can benefit from the experience of people aged 50 plus who are looking at different ways they can play a part."

By constructing strong communities, Blunkett argued, the Home Office could do its bit in the economic battle.

"We are intent on building strong communities that are attractive to investors, when coupled with the skills of a competitive workforce," he said.

"Communities in which both businesses and individuals have a stake, are places where people will play their part in crime prevention."

The home secretary was also canvassing business support for his controversial proposals to introduce compulsory ID cards for all British citizens and to be set out in a consultation paper this summer.

"I want the green paper later this summer on entitlement cards to be something that I'd like businesses to respond to very vigorously because as well as identity fraud and associated financial dealings, this is also an issue of illegal working," he told the FT.

The Home Office believes that so-called "entitlement" cards, which face stiff opposition from civil libertarians and have been greeted with a lukewarm reception from government ministers, are far more likely to become reality if backed by business as an anti-fraud measure.

Based on high tech "biometric" ID recently introduced for asylum seekers, the new cards would carry a photograph, fingerprints and other personal information.

They are being trailed as a means to check "entitlements" to health service treatment, education and state benefits, and to clamp down on illegal working and benefit fraud.

The new £1 billion ID card would be compulsory although it would not be an offence to fail to produce it on demand.