The Liberal Democrats have pledged to put 10,000 extra police officers on the streets, topping the government's promise to improve neighbourhood policing.

Mark Oaten, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said the extra officers would be funded by scrapping the government's identity cards scheme.

His comments came as the government set out how it will deliver its pledge to provide every community in the country with its own dedicated neighbourhood policing team by 2008.

Government Response: Home Office

Charles Clarke, home secretary, said: "Neighbourhood policing is not a soft option - it is a hard edged strategy that recognises the importance of visible, accessible, responsive and intelligence-led policing to combat all crime, from nuisance neighbours to drug dealers.