David Blunkett's message today was typically blunt: "In Brighton, the issue is not whether you take action but why action has not been taken in the past."

The Home Secretary was not attacking the city council, police and health groups for failing to get beggars off the streets.

Mr Blunkett believes that, like himself, they are frustrated the tools have not been available to address the root causes of begging - addiction to drugs and alcohol.

A beggar causes a nuisance, intimidating shoppers or sitting by a cash point. The police pick the person up but the only penalty available is a fine they cannot pay.

The beggar is back on the streets and the authorities are back to square one.

New powers are to be introduced in the Criminal Justice Bill to make begging a "registerable offence".

Mr Blunkett wants Brighton and Hove, which has a hardcore of 25 persistent beggars, to lead the way in showing the new measures can work.

As a registerable offence, the police will be able to take beggars' fingerprints and test for links with crimes such as burglary and shop theft.

Courts will be able to hand down community penalties. Beggars, if they have problem with drink or drugs, will be ordered to undergo treatment programmes, also for the first time.

In addition, as one of only four begging trailblazers in the country, Brighton and Hove will be told to carry out a beggar audit.

Each individual will be profiled to identify their specific problems and what help they need to get off the streets.

The city will also be given a share of a £70 million pot, the exact size of which has not yet been decided.

But in return Mr Blunkett wants results. The number of beggars on the streets must be slashed by at least 60 per cent by March 2005.

The Home Secretary said: "Simply leaving beggars to beg does not solve their problem." He believes breaking the link between drugs and begging will be crucial.

As well as criminal penalties, there must be treatment.

In 2000 The Argus launched a Don't Give To Beggars campaign after revealing residents were inadvertently putting money into the pockets of drug dealers by giving money to homeless people.

It followed a survey which showed more than a third of beggars admitted spending donations on heroin.

The campaign was designed to channel money into charities and support services that help the homeless, not the dealers.

Recent figures suggest 75 per cent of money given to beggars is spent on drink and drugs.

Mr Blunkett said: "If somebody is begging and they are picked up and they are registered as committing an offence they should be helped if they are on drugs.

"We have got to take preventive measures, we have got to take early intervention measures - whether it be young people or drug addicts.

"We have got to get tough with people. There is no excuse."

The reaction from homeless groups was mixed.

Pete Wileman, South Coast manager for Big Issue magazine, believes the Government needs to ensure it looks at ways of socially helping people get off the streets.

He said: "The huge majority of people that beg do not want to beg because they find it degrading. They feel they have been forced into that situation.

"Rather than demonising people for begging, let's try and give them alternatives and ways out of whatever situation has led them to the part of their lifestyle which is begging.

"We can't lock beggars up. How are they going to pay the fines? These punitive measures need to be used alongside measures of social care.

"It is about looking at the reasons why people beg. If people are begging to fund their drug habit they need to be offered adequate opportunities and treatment to get them drug-free.

"If we bring in legislation it tends to be quite general but they are all individuals with individual problems and each of these cases have to be treated separately. It is about looking at the person and asking that person why they are begging.

"If people are aggressive beggars and they are intimidating people, the Government and the police have a responsibility. But at the same time I think it is very important that people who are involved in social care are also involved so it is a multi-agency approach."

The Emmaus project, which provides accommodation for 40 former homeless people in Portslade, warned of the dangers of passing on the begging problem to other parts of Sussex.

General manager Neil Howe said: "I do not like to see people begging on the streets. It is something that needs to be addressed.

"A lot of beggars are spending their money on drink and drugs. Giving them money is not such a good idea in the long run.

"The danger is if they crack down in Brighton and Hove, people will move on to Eastbourne and Worthing.

"As long as it is a way of providing more hostel accommodation and facilities, it is a good idea. If it is just going to drive people in to other areas, it is a short term solution to a bigger problem."

But there was widespread agreement with Mr Blunkett that simply allowing people to carry on begging is not the answer.

Father Alan Sharpe, the founder and chairman of St Patrick's Night Shelter in Cambridge Road, Hove, said: "If you give the money to the person begging they will be there tomorrow and the next day. If you give it to someone like us we can help move the person on."

He added: "It is a small minority of people who are perhaps aggressive beggars or hang around and drink.

"The majority of people do not want to be on the streets. It is a whole lot of circumstances that put them out there."

"There is a shortage of hostels. It would be lovely if we were able to provide extra hostels locally."

David Pavitt, of the Crossover project which provides hot meals, clothing and sleeping bags to the city's homeless, said: "From the point of view of the public I feel sympathetic. Aggressive begging is not on in any community.

"Rather than give money, how about a voucher system so they can exchange their vouchers for food but not drink?

"I always tell people to give food, give Mars bars, give socks but do not give money."

John Remier, organiser of the Kemp Town Brighton Soup Run stand, said: "People should not give to beggars because there is no need to beg. Most days they can get their meals, they can get a shower and they can get advice.

"On the other hand some of these people have mental health problems and they might not know how to access the facilities which are available.

"All sorts of people come to us, from alcoholics and mental health cases to bright youngsters who are just travelling the country.

"When 12,000 people come to you in a year there is a real need and anything the Government can do to meet that need is to be applauded."