These new proposals are part of the Government's plans to reform sentencing and tackle the root causes of offending.

Minister for Prisons and Probation Crispin Blunt said: "These tougher curfew conditions will keep offenders off the street for longer, stop them socialising in the evenings and keep them away from situations that could land them in trouble again.

"This is part of our proposals to reform the Criminal Justice System and will help to keep communities safe whilst important work is done with offenders to turn them away from a life of crime."

The increased powers will allow courts to vary curfew hours from day to day, for example during the week and at weekends, and to divide them into different blocks within the day.

About 24,000 individuals are being electronically monitored at any one time. If an offender breaches the terms of their curfew, he or she can be sent back to court for further punishment.

Since 2005 two suppliers have successfully operated electronic monitoring services in England and Wales - these contracts are soon due for re-competition and will focus on the Government's drive to raise standards in public protection and help to further cut re-offending.

Other measures being taken forward in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill include a review of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences, with a view to replacing them with a tougher determinate sentence regime and a greater use of life sentences.

"We are also looking to introduce a new offence of aggravated knife possession, with a mandatory prison sentence of at least six months," said Blunt.