9.03AM GMT, 13 Nov 2002

A crackdown on crime and antisocial behaviour is expected to dominate the Queen's Speech outlining the Government's plans in the new session of Parliament.

And all eyes will be watching for any suggestion of moves to pave the way for a referendum on the euro, after heavy hints from Commons Leader Robin Cook.

Mr Cook recently told reporters "the euro will be in there ... and you will be interested".

The Queen will announce reforms to a series of crime-related Bills and measures, including:

- a tightening up of the Sex Offenders Bill on so-called "date rape".

- an Antisocial Behaviour Bill dealing with "petty" crimes such as graffiti and vandalism

- on-the-spot fines for minor offences such as dropping litter or chewing gum, graffiti and fly-posting.

- moves to give juries details of defendants' previous convictions

- relaxing the 'double jeopardy' rule which prevents someone from being tried for the same crime twice.

- Britons will be handed over to face trial in other European countries on the say-so of foreign courts under streamlined extradition procedures.

Also predicted:

- a Bill setting up Foundation Hospitals which will have freedom from Whitehall to borrow and spend according to guidelines monitored by an independent watchdog.

- a Broadcasting Bill paving the way for greater cross-media ownership of TV stations and TV mergers and setting up a new Ofcom media watchdog.

- a Licensing Bill to allow for 24-hour opening at the discretion of pub and club landlords.

- a Local Government Bill, reforming council finances again and also aiming to streamline planning red tape.

- regional government, with a Bill setting up mechanisms for referendums on local assemblies.

- fox hunting, with a measure licensing hunts which can show any other way of tackling the problem would be more cruel - a measure backbenchers could amend to turn into a blanket ban on hunting with dogs.

Ministers have insisted the new extradition measures, which will implement the controversial European arrest warrants, will speed up justice and stop fugitives abusing the system.

The measures which were all included in July's White Paper Justice for All are now thought to have been divided into two separate Bills, one on sentencing and another on court reform.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the existing arrangement is a "19th century criminal justice system trying to solve 21st century crimes".

Justice was "weighted towards the criminal and in need of rebalancing towards the victim," he added.

However, the legal world says the changes to historic principles of law - such as double jeopardy, removal of some jury trial, disclosing previous convictions and using hearsay evidence - will lead to more innocent people being convicted.

"The idea that reducing the rights of defendants benefits the victims of crime is fundamentally flawed," said representatives of civil rights group Liberty, the Bar Council and the Legal Action Group in a statement.

"We believe that the independence of our criminal justice system must be safeguarded from spin and the desire of politicians to make political capital."

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