MP hopefuls standing in Isle of Wight East have had their say on crime, ahead of the General Election.

ASBIs, stop and search, dispersal orders, bobbies on the beat and crime levels are all key policing concerns on the Island.

The County Press asked each candidate how they would set and achieve goals in these areas.

Here's what they said, in 120 words...

Emily Brothers, for Island Labour, said: "Antisocial behaviour is making too many people’s lives a misery and is blighting our local communities. I know as a Sandown Town Councillor how parks and public toilets are too frequently vandalised.

"Labour’s pledge to put 13,000 extra neighbourhood police back on the beat will ensure every community has a named and contactable local figure they can get in touch with, so policing gets back to doing what it’s supposed to do.

"Our Respect Orders, tough court orders similar to ASBOs, will allow us to ban those repeatedly wreaking havoc in town centres and problem areas.

"Our expedited Public Space Protection Orders will make it quicker and easier to clamp down on rapid escalations in drug dealing or drinking."

Independent candidate, David Groocock, said: "I am a great believer in giving young people a purpose in life, they tell me they need more Youth Hubs where they can meet up and engage. More and better access to sports facilities on the Island. 

"As a minority you will get youths and criminals who are not interested here I would install more CCTV in known locations, and of course more policeman on the beat.

"You still cannot beat the presence of a policeman as a deterrent.

"And finally, for those who keep offending, harsher court sentences, but for youth crime that would include re-education and incentives to help the communities where they have offended. 

"Finally tougher on drug crimes by targeting gangs and suppliers of all drugs."

For the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, Michael Lilley said: "We need to restore proper community policing where officers are visible, trusted and focused on preventing and solving crimes.

"The current Police Crime Commissioner has put into place a “local bobbies” scheme and a plan to reopen local police stations.

"However, there needs to be stronger funding for prevention work especially with young people and consistent youth service provision across the constituency.

"In Ryde as mayor I supported Ryde Town Council investing in an award-winning youth service, Network Ryde, which has gained investment for a new innovative youth centre and subsequently funding has gone to Sandown for a similar centre but we need this across the Island so every young person has support and not the current postcode lottery."

Isle of Wight Green Party candidate, Vix Lowthion, said: "Any crime is a concern – we all deserve to live on an island which is safe and secure.

"The Police and Crime Commissioner has promised additional police, but that is only part of the problem.

"Since the austerity cuts of the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government we have seen nearly £100million slashed from our council budget and as a consequence youth services across the island have reduced to almost non-existent.

"There’s some excellent work going on in Ryde with Network Ryde and in The Bay – but we need more support for young people so that they do not get involved in crime.

"I will support opportunities for young people, and curriculum reform in schools,  to tackle the root causes of crime in this age group."

For Reform UK, Sarah Morris, said: "We need to stop worrying about who we’re going to offend by keeping people safe. Stopping and searching for a knife in an area where there is prevalent knife crime, should not be frowned upon.

"We need to take an approach similar to that used by the mayor of New York years ago when he said if we crack down on broken windows then it will naturally curb more serious crime. I believe we should adopt the same approach here.

"Currently, we are allowing people to shoplift £200 worth of food and get away with it. That is not setting a good example for other crimes, in fact I believe it encourages it."

Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight Conservatives, said: "I already have an excellent working relationship with our well-regarded PCC, Donna Jones.

"Last year we secured a grant to help tackle anti-social behaviour using a local sport programme for police to refer in to.

"I want police to make better use of technology and I’m campaigning for installation of monitored state-of-the-art CCTV in our town centres so police can respond to incidents as they happen.

"Ryde already has money available for this given by Government.

"Supported by me, Donna has put more bobbies on the beat and is reopening the Ryde Police station front desk later this year.

"We’re starting a new “Shopwatch” for Sandown to help businesses work together and better engage police to tackle abuse."

  • For Isle of Wight West: Cameron Palin, Green Party; Ian Pickering, Reform UK; Richard Quigley, Labour; Bob Seely, Conservative; Nick Stuart, Liberal Democrat; Rachel Thacker, ADF.