The biggest security operation mounted in Brighton and Hove will greet the Government for the Labour Party conference next month.

The Home Office is spending a record £3.7 million for the police, security service and military operation, more than £1 million above last year's budget.

It which works out at £500 for every minute of the five days delegates and visitors are in the city.

Sussex Police yesterday said they were confident the city would be safe from terrorists and said there was no intelligence the conference was a target.

Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine, heading Operation Otter, said: "As a result of the work all parties have done, Brighton will be a safe place to be during the conference."

Mr Paine said he was aware London was not on high alert when suicide bombers struck on July 7.

He was also aware of the threat suicide bombers posed but, he said, he remained confident the force would deal with any eventuality, although he would not go into detail for security reasons.

Questions have been raised as to whether the conference should be held in Brighton in the light of the London bombings but city council leader Ken Bodfish was adamant.

He said: "We can't let the bombers win. The conference must go on, no matter what."

Mr Paine told a media conference at Brighton police station residents would have to endure some disruption with road and pavement closures and there would be more armed police on the streets and more stops and searches than in previous years.

Under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which came into effect on July 7, police can stop and search anyone they consider to be acting suspiciously or anyone on whom they have specific intelligence.

Mr Paine said securitymeasures for the conference between September 25 and 29 had been beefed up in the light of the London bombings.

An island site will be created around the Brighton Centre and will encompass The Grand Hotel, the Russell Road NCP car park and the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

Strengthened barriers, fencing and turnstiles will counter vehicle bombers and filter visitors into lines for bag searches and credentials checking.

An air exclusion zone will ban aircraft from the area and the Royal Navy will watch the seas off Brighton.

More than 1,000 police and staff will be involved, many from forces around the country.

Mr Paine urged members of the public to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious.

Adam Bates, the city's tourism chief, said the conference was vital to the city's economy and more than 13,000 jobs were dependent upon it.

The conference, he said, brought in £10 million and encouraged other business to the city from around the world.