AN INDEPENDENT Denbighshire county councillor is the latest to throw his hat into the ring to be the next North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

Cllr Mark Young, a business owner from Denbigh, has said he will put the people of North Wales ahead of party politics if he is elected in the May 6 poll.

He is chair of the Safer North Wales Partnership Board and Denbighshire County Council’s lead member for Safer Communities, Public Protection and Domestic abuse, including chair of Denbighshire’s CCTV Partnership.

In 2015 he made headlines when he patrolled his home town for three consecutive nights when a spate of robberies affected local businesses, after what he called an “ineffective” police response.

Cllr Young said community safety will be his number one priority if elected.

He said: “After working with the present commissioner, Arfon Jones, for a number of years it would be an immense privilege to take on this role and carry on his positive work.

“I am the candidate who can keep the political parties out of running North Wales Police.

“Rather than being subservient to vested political interests, I will always put the people of North Wales first.”

Among his priorities he says he wants approachable, visible community policing and a continued crackdown on county lines drugs gangs, modern slavery and child exploitation.

Cllr Young is chair of a youth charity and says also he want to set up a  “youth engagement group” on policing matters.

One of his more novel pledges is to trial electric bicycles for officers to go where patrol cars might not be able to access.

He said: “I absolutely understand the role which is to support and professionally challenge when needed to get the best outcome for our communities.

“I will scrutinise the work of the force and hold the chief constable to account to ensure that North Wales Police operates at the optimum level to keep our communities safe.”

Also standing for Police and Crime Commissioner are Flintshire Councillor Andy Dunbobbin (Labour), police and crime panel chair Patricia Astbury (Conservative) and Ann Griffith (Plaid Cymru).