Blunkett to announce concessions for police

David Blunkett is expected to announce a compromise to his police reforms this week in an attempt to silence critics.

The Home Office admitted last night that "more work" needed to be done to an important part of the Police Bill that would give ministers power to impose action plans on failing police forces.

Mr Blunkett is reported to have held secret talks with Oliver Letwin, the shadow Home Secretary, to discuss a compromise. The proposal has been criticised as undermining the long-standing principle that chief constables operate independently of the Government.

One alternative said to have been discussed would mean that the police authorities, rather than the Home Secretary, would approve plans for under-performing constabularies.

A Home Office spokeswoman insisted that Mr Blunkett was determined to maintain the principle. "We are happy to find a different route to the same outcome," she said. "We are not prepared to dilute the principle that the Home Secretary has the power to intervene in failing areas."

The framework for the powers is set out in a protocol to the Bill that is due to begin its final passage through the Commons tomorrow.

Mr Blunkett is expected to announce on Wednesday that cannabis will be reclassified from a class-B to a class-C drug. The move follows a pilot project in Lambeth, south London, in which people caught with a small amount of the drug were only given a warning so that police hours could be spent on combating harder drugs.

It is believed the Home Secretary will seek to deflect criticism that he is going soft on drugs by announcing harsher sentences for those caught dealing cannabis.

Mr Blunkett is also likely to come under fire on Friday with the publication of official figures showing a 6 per cent rise in crime this year.