Witnesses who give evidence against gang members will be guaranteed their anonymity as soon as they come forward so they can be free from fear of reprisals, The Times has learnt. Ministers are also exploring ways of giving police wider powers to restrict with court orders the movements of gang members.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, will address the issues today in a speech setting out ways to help police to tackle violent gangs and their intimidation of communities.

Senior officers have told the Government that if they are to address Britain’s gang culture successfully they need to convince potential witnesses that they will be safe from the outset. Often witnesses will not be guaranteed anonymity in court until near the start of trials, allowing them to be subjected to intimidation.

Officers also want to be able to restrict the movement of known gang members with the use of court injunctions banning a suspect from entering specific areas of a city.

The Times has learnt that the two proposals, along with new measures to prevent guns from being smuggled into the country, are at the top of a list of 54 recommendations made to the Home Office by Deputy Chief Constable John Murphy, head of the Home Office’s Tackling Gangs Action Programme.

Ministers and police recognise the need for urgent action to increase convictions in gang-related crimes and reassure the public after a spate of high-profile teenage killings.

The number of convictions for witness intimidation has more than doubled in the past decade. In 1996 there were 366 convictions, compared with 783 in 2005.

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