Police must embrace cutting edge technology to stay ahead of criminals in the fight against crime, the Home Secretary will tell an audience of senior policemen tonight.

David Blunkett is due to tell members of the Police Foundation that they need to make effective use of technology long before it gets into criminals hands if there is to be any hope of keeping a lid on serious and organised crime.

The Home Secretary will outline the three key challenges facing law enforcement agencies: to exploit existing technology to the full; to identify emerging threats as well as new opportunities; and to be prepared for the next step in criminal behaviour and terrorist activity.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Blunkett said: "We live in an increasingly technologically sophisticated age. Organised criminals are using high-tech means to evade the law and commit serious crimes such as drug running, people trafficking, fraud and terrorism. And at a local level, criminals are using new technology to commit the same old crimes in new ways.

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