Inner city crime rates 'unacceptable'

Sir John said to be "seething" over Blunkett's comments

Home Secretary David Blunkett has reiterated his warning to police chiefs that crime rates in inner cities are "unacceptable".

In a statement, the Home Office said it was "essential" that targets were set for bringing down crime levels.

It came after reports that Mr Blunkett is at loggerheads with police chiefs over his proposed reforms of the service.

Tough stance

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens is said to be infuriated by Mr Blunkett's comments last week suggesting that he would be sacked if street crime levels in London were not cut within six months.

Mr Blunkett threatened to send in government managers to run the force if violent crime was not reduced.

The Home Office insisted that Mr Blunkett's remarks to London's Evening Standard newspaper had not been intended as an attack on Sir John.

But it also made clear that the home secretary was not backing away from his tough stance on rising crime levels.

Mr Blunkett says crime attack was not personal

"The Home Secretary has not made an attack on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens," the statement said.

"As Sir John Stevens recognised himself in a named article in the Evening Standard on Friday, both the Home Secretary and Sir John Stevens agree that there has to be a concerted effort to cut street crime and that the rising crime rates in our cities are unacceptable.

"Setting targets to reduce crime is not an attack, but essential and the public expect no less."

The rift between the Home Secretary and police leaders could make it difficult for him to push through his key reforms, including plans to regulate sick leave and early retirement.

Officials pointed out that the Government's policing white paper also included powers for the Home Secretary to "get rid" of failing chief constables.