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Up to 500 "victims of terror" will be able to claim asylum in the UK in the first year of a new United Nations-backed scheme unveiled by home secretary David Blunkett.

In an apparent attempt to placate criticism of the government's hard line stance on asylum, Blunkett said the scheme would start soon with the UN nominating victims of the Liberian civil war for refugee status.

He said the government's "balanced" approach on asylum - including the UN scheme - would help to reduce illegal trafficking. But he added that the claimants would be well received only if there was an effective system to process claims.


"I believe this country will welcome those from across the world if they know that we can be trusted, they are confident in its administration and they know we are seeing off organised criminals," Blunkett said.

He added that the government was "committed" to Britain's tradition of providing a safe haven for those fleeing persecution.

But he refused to back down over controversial plans to introduce stringent penalties for perpetrators of antisocial behaviour, explaining that it was not an attack on civil liberties but an attempt to improve the safety of communities.

Blunkett said the Antisocial Behaviour Bill, which is due to receive royal assent in November, would "empower the police, give more support through parenting orders and help rebuild trust and respect in communities".


He added that more intensive community supervision orders would be issued. Where parents showed they did not care about the behaviour of their children it would be seen as the government's responsibility to intervene to protect the fabric of communities.

He criticised the Liberal Democrats for voting against the Antisocial Behaviour Bill as "breathtaking" and an indication that they "stand behind the human rights of the perpetrators".

Blunkett also vowed to tackle the "scourge" of hard drugs and "get a grip" on the organised gangs of criminals involved in selling them.