Prime Minister Tony Blair said in September that a new crime and justice bill would be announced at the state opening of Parliament.

In an interview with the BBC, he said that one of the main aims of the bill would be to introduce legislation to tackle drug-related crime.

It is also expected to give the police tougher powers as well as reforming areas of the probation system.

One of the main aspects of new legislation will be the introduction of mandatory drug testing for people arrested for drug-related crimes.

This has been criticised by civil liberties groups as eroding people's rights and also failing to tackle crime.

The bill could also see the reform of the probation service and the renaming of community service as "criminal work".

Three strikes

There have been reports that the Home Secretary Jack Straw will introduce a three year mandatory sentence for a burglar convicted three times.

Drugs tests could become mandatory for some people under arrest

It is possible that something will be included that will introduce new laws to tackle bribery in the business world.

This would make it illegal to give or accept business specifically in return for corporate hospitality. Such measures could be coupled with tougher laws on bribing Members of Parliament.

It is believed the Home Office has been pushing for new laws that would allow the police to arrest kerb crawlers as at present they cannot be arrested on the spot.

The bill may also include legislation for a national DNA database, which would allow, among other measures, samples given by people during criminal investigations to be kept on file, regardless of their innocence.