Sutton’s second debate ahead of a general election took place last night.
Candidates fielded questions ranging from the future redevelopment of St Hellier Hospital, the security of the redevelopment at Stanley Park High School, the provision of social services for former residents of Orchard Hill and how they would encourage more young people to vote at the event at Carshalton Boys Sports College.
Assistant head David Hall and student chaired the panel made up of Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake, Conservative candidate Ken Andrews, Ukip candidate Frank Day, Labour candidate Shafi Khan and Green candidate George Dow.
The night’s highlights:
What would you do to address the community’s fear of crime following high profile murders in the local area and what would you do about anti social behaviour?
Conservative Mr Andrews said he would look at taking away police paper work, make sure police officers are on the street, take strong action for anyone carrying a knife and would consider curfews for “youths behaving badly”.
Liberal Democrat Tom Brake said he would continue to exploit partnership working between the police and the council to make best use of resources and take tougher action of licences locally and adults who provide drink to young people.
Green George Dow said he would look at a review of licensing laws and ways to create more activities for young people.
Labour’s election agent Andrew Theobald, who spoke on behalf of candidate Shafi Khan for the first question, said Sutton was not “Beirut or Afghanistan” and said he was “fed up” with the way young people were labelled as criminals.
He said young people should be given ways to “express themselves” not to be treated as if they were in a “concentration camp”.
Ukip Frank Day said Asbos should be scrapped and said there needed to be more space in our prisons because it was the “perpetrator that had to be punished not the victim”.
Why does the British Government have no compensation provision for British victims of serious crime and injury abroad?
Lib Dem Mr Brake said the proposal would have financial implications, but it was an important issue and one which needed to have homogeniety across the EU member countries to work.
Green Mr Dow said British victims of crime abroad should be treated the same of victims of crime in this country and said there needed to be clear communication between nations so any compensation claim could be made easier.
Labour Mr Khan said he accepted the argument and said the matter needed looking into.
Ukip's Mr Day said compensation costed money but if the UK were to leave the EU it would save £42m a day to spend on victims.
Tory Mr Andrews said if there was no recourse to the country concerned then “we should look to help people here”.
Will candidates employ any family members if elected, yes or no?
Tory Mr Andrews said his wife helped him on constituency problems and there was “no way that would change”, but whether she would be paid for those services was a “separate question”.
Lib Dem Mr Brake said he would not give any assurance, because his mother had worked for him in the past and the question was more of how much she was being underpaid, than overpaid.
Green Mr Dow said he would not employ his wife.
Labour’s Mr Khan said no “of course not”.
Ukip Mr Day said he would not be employing his wife, the only person her would be employing would be his “mistress”.
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