Key excerpts from the speech by the home secretary, David Blunket, to the Labour Party conference in Blackpool.

"Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is a matter of social justice. It is the poorest areas which suffer most from crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder. 80% of the highest crime areas are also the most deprived.

"The police cannot win the battle against crime alone. Regeneration and renewal of our communities is vital. We must work together to build strongcommunities with confident individuals and families who understand their rights and accept their responsibilities. Communities built on mutuality and interdependence, working with an enabling Government.

"This is a challenge to us all - central government, police, local government, business, the voluntary sector and the public. A challenge to make the local crime reduction partnerships work and put crime reduction at the heart of local government.

"We already have much we can be proud of. Crime is stable, street crime has been reduced by 14%. Police numbers are at a record high. I am today setting a new target - in 2004 there will be 132,500 police officers. The police are being supported by the new Community Support Officers who will work alongside officers and street wardens to increase a visible presence on the streets. We have invested £10m in CCTV.

"We are driving the biggest programme of reform the Home Office has ever seen; in policing, asylum & immigration and in the criminal justice system. This is not just change for change's sake. It is about making the necessary reforms to our structures to make the difference on the ground. The litmus test for reform is not new systems for the sake of it, but people feeling the difference in their communities.

"But investment has to be matched by radical reform. We are in the process of the most far reaching reform of the police service which will reduce crime, increase detections and ensure the guilty are punished. Frontline officers will be rewarded through priority payments and they will be freed from the red tape which is delaying them in the police station.

"Across the board we are tackling what makes people offend. A new focused drive on Class A drugs, investment in treatment for offenders and those at risk of offending.

"The Criminal Justice system is not working. We need to rebalance the system to protect victims and witnesses and put them at the heart of the system.

"All miscarriages of justice are abhorrent. It is a miscarriage when a guilty person walks free from court just as it is when someone is wrongly convicted.

"Prison is place for serious and violent offenders. The public needs to be protected from dangerous sex offenders; we are legislating for that. I am today announcing a tightening up of the registration of sex offenders.

We must act on behalf of the people, the judiciary must make sure they do not make judgements that seek to protect the people from the will of Parliament. This is a point of principle at its most pertinent when dealing with dangerous criminals; compassion is only possible when common sense prevails.

"Securing our borders against illegal immigrants whilst offering a safe haven to refugees is crucial. We are also determined to make the case for managed migration - immigration benefits our country and we should say so with confidence.

"Racism has not been eliminated in this country; we still have more to do to have a tolerant and decent society; more to do to see off racists and build communities and neighbourhoods which are at ease with one another.

"We have to build trust in our system; tough, fast and fair administration of asylum seekers which can respond to the European and global pressures we face.

"Last year I asked conference to trust me on vouchers. I have delivered on my promise - vouchers have gone. People say conference doesn't matter and has no influence on policy - they are wrong - as this proves.

"So let us be clear and confident about our purpose. We are offering centre-left solutions to issues that our voters care about, fighting off the threat from the Far Right, not occupying their ground."