Blunkett blasts Liz and Joan

David Blunkett launched a strong attack on actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Joan Collins today for claiming that New York is safer than London.

The Home Secretary said they did not know what they were talking about - although Ms Hurley was mugged at knifepoint in Kensington eight years ago.

Ms Collins has said her two daughters "can't even walk down the street during the day without the possibility of something unpleasant happening".

Mr Blunkett said: "New York is not safer than London despite recent publicity by Joan Collins and Liz Hurley. No wonder the police get demoralised. It's not inevitable that there will be a downward spiral in our communities."