While David Blunkett has been seeking to focus on the fight against serious crime, it has been announced he faces an investigation by parliament's sleaze watchdog.

After more fallout from his affair with married publisher Kimberly Quinn, the home secretary was setting out the details of the government's Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill.

The legislation will establish a FBI-style body to fight criminals involved in areas such as drugs and people trafficking.

But as the home secretary sought to concentrate on his flagship plans, it was announced that parliament's standards watchdog will investigate Blunkett's decision to give Quinn free rail tickets.

Blunkett has already repaid the £180 and admitted it was a "genuine mistake" to give them to his lover as they are intended for spouses.

A spokesman for watchdog Sir Philip Mawer said there would be an investigation.

"He received several complains from members of the public about the rail tickets and the process is happening," the spokesman confirmed.

Proposals

Meanwhile, the home secretary was defending his proposals for dealing with serious crime, child vandals, underage drinking and uninsured drivers.

"Tackling crime and building safer communities is a top priority for the government and is at the very heart of its legislative agenda," said Blunkett.

"The Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill is key to that work. It sets out radical plans to tackle organised crime, including the creation of a new agency, and to modernise police powers. 

"Crime is down and the chance of being a victim of crime is lower than in 20 years.

"But we are not complacent and the government is continuing to drive down crime at all levels - from the international crime gangs who pollute our communities with drugs and crime, to the thuggish and anti-social behaviour that turns neighbourhoods into no-go areas."

Clarification

The home secretary also sought to clarify legislation that would create a new offence of religious hatred.

"I have issued a statement today to parliament giving reassurances to people and making it absolutely clear that, in introducing this measure, criticisms of religion would not be ruled out and nor would cracking religious jokes," he said.

"The government is committed to the right to legitimate freedom of speech, but the provisions in the Bill aim to combat the activities of extremists who stir up hatred against groups targeted because of their religious beliefs, as well as those targeted on racial grounds.

"All hatred has a detrimental effect on individual victims and society as a whole. The measures we are introducing build on protection already afforded by the incitement to racial hatred offences."

But shadow home secretary David Davis said the plans would threaten freedom of speech and do nothing to protect religious groups from harassment or violence.

"Freedom of speech is one of the great virtues, and simultaneously one the great strengths, of our society," he said.

"This proposed curb is almost entirely unnecessary.

"Words intended to provoke violence, or to cause alarm, distress, or harassment, are all caught by existing laws.

"So this legislation proposes to sacrifice freedom of speech for little or no gain."