David Blunkett has put crime at the heart of Labour's general election agenda with a pledge to increase the police presence on Britain's streets.

Addressing the party faithful in Brighton, the home secretary announced plans to hire 25,000 community support officers (CSOs) by 2009.

The £50 million pledge comes as Labour seeks to make policing more visible in cities, towns and villages across the UK.

The home secretary also detailed plans to create weekend jails and expand prison capacity by 1,300.

He also announced a £90 million boost to  anti-terrorism in a bid to tackle the increased threat from al Qaeda.

"I am committed to maintaining those record police numbers, while putting in place a total of 25,000 community support officers and wardens over the next three years," he said.

"The recruitment of the next phase of community support officers has already begun - not jam tomorrow but security today.

"We have doubled the capacity of the Security Service, expanded the counter-terrorism branch and invested £330 million in protective measures.

"And today I can announce we are ploughing an additional £90 million into our protective programme to step it up even further."

More community coppers

Speaking ahead of his address, Blunkett said the number of CSOs would be 2,000 higher than initially promised.

"They'll be employed right across the country. They'll be part of the beat team in the community doing the job on the street," he said.

The home secretary also dismissed claims that he was attempting to police Britain's streets on the cheap.

He insisted community support officers were played a complementary role in combating crime.

"They are preventive because if they are there, visible, available on the street, opportunistic crime will drop," said Blunkett.

"And it has done in the areas where the initial CSOs have been deployed."

In his conference address Blunkett also defended his hardline approach to issues such as crime and asylum.

"I would rather be a tough home secretary in a compassionate Labour government than a compassionate opponent of a right-wing Tory government," he said.

And he went on to warn anti-social families that they must reform or face the consequences.

"There will be no let-up on tackling the anti-social behaviour which can blight communities. We are working hard, with tough new laws and a national action plan," said Blunkett.

"Where families persist in engaging in anti-social behaviour, nuisance to neighbours and downright irresponsibility, we will be taking further action.

"Families who have either been evicted or are close to eviction because of their behaviour will sign up to a programme to change their behaviour."