West Midlands Mayor: Labour candidate Sion Simon vows to get tough on crime

Siôn Simon has vowed to get tough on what he calls 'everyday crime', which includes drug dealing on street corners and drug abuse on public transport.

He plans to work with Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Jamieson to establish a taskforce that will run programmes targeting at-risk and vulnerable young people and deter them from involvement in drug and gang-related crime.

Mr Simon said: "Unreported gang and drug-related crimes, or so-called 'everyday crime' needn't be a reality for us. But we can't rely on politicians in London who tell us crime isn't going up because for many people I speak to across the West Midlands, that couldn't be further from the truth.

"With a new West Midlands Mayor, someone from here who understands the problems that we face, we can finally do something about it.

"We've had enough of it but taking back control of our own affairs from London means starting to change those things that hold us back that we've long since stopped complaining about.

"It's time for us to get tough on crime.

"First things first, that means defending our police numbers and boosting the numbers of police on patrol on our streets. But we know that crime falls when the supply of young people exposed to the influences of crime is reduced.

"That's why, as mayor, I will work with the Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver a £1 million fund to deal with drugs and gangs.

"It will be the job of the Drugs and Gangs Taskforce to provide activities that prevent young people at risk of falling into crime from getting involved in drugs, gangs and violence.

"We need to find diversions for these at-risk young people before they are drawn into gangs and crime."

Mr Jamieson, said: "Drawing young people away from violence and giving them a prosperous future is the shared ambition of Siôn and myself."