A fresh drive against violent crime, giving police and courts tougher powers to deal with guns and knives, would be launched by Labour within a month of re-election, Tony Blair pledged yesterday.

Publishing the party's law and order mini-manifesto, he set out plans for stronger laws on the sale of weapons, more drug-testing of prolific offenders and renewed action on binge-drinking.
The Prime Minister insisted crime had fallen and police numbers had risen since 1997 and he added: "If we are elected, there will be a further step-change."