Addressing the Labour conference, David Blunkett has reaffirmed the government's commitment to clamp down on crime and anti-social behaviour.

Following Tony Blair's call on Tuesday to act "ruthlessly" in the war on organised crime, the home secretary pledged to continue the government's hard line policies.

In a speech dominated by the word "community", Blunkett said he wanted ordinary people to feel safe and secure.

"Communities across the country must be restored to their people," said the home secretary.

Labour was "removing the blight on our people" the conference was told.

And on international issues he conceded that there were "new threats from non-negotiable terror".

The world was engaged with a "time of enormous change" but government's role was to provide "stability throughout".

The address came as the Home Office released new figures showing that police numbers have reached a new high.

A total of 136,386 officers were employed up to the end of August, an increase of 4,118 since December 2002.

"With more officers and staff than ever before and following very substantial growth in police funding, we are redoubling our efforts to ensure that more officer time is spent on front line policing," said Blunkett.

And the government also announced that the new Assets Recovery Agency will aim to take money from "career criminals" and reinvest it in the community.

It is expected that some £22.5 million a year for the next three years will be invested in frontline agencies and local communities.

"We are beginning to hit criminals where it hurts - in their pockets," Blunkett said.

"Why should career criminals live 'champagne lifestyles' paid for at the expense of victims of crime?"