HOME Secretary David Blunkett today told West Mercia police to make street crime, burglary, drug dealing, loutish behaviour and car crime their top priorities.

But Worcester city councillors have expressed mixed opinions on setting national targets to deal with local estate issues.

Mr Blunkett introduced the first National Policing Plan to police authority chiefs in Harrogate.

He insisted each priority listed in it must be reflected in the three-year local plans he has asked each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales to compile.

Coun Mike Layland, from Nunnery ward, said the move would lead to yet another layer of red tape and that national targets did not always reflect local problems.

"The issues he lists are priorities but the police are there to catch criminals and not fill in more paperwork," he said.

"We should be talking about putting more bobbies on the beat to help them carry out their job more effectively."

Coun Rod Staines, from St Stephen ward, said tackling drugs was a top priority.

"Drug-related crimes are definitely on the increase nationally and it is a problem we face in Worcester," he said.

He also agreed less paperwork and more patrols were the real key to local crime improvements.

Mr Blunkett told delegates at the conference that having a national strategy in place was a "central plank of police reform".