HOME Secretary Theresa May has told the County Gazette she would like to see a blanket ban on legal highs.

In an exclusive interview in our offices in St James Street, Taunton, today, Friday, March 27, Mrs May said the incidents of anti-social behaviour caused by people using the drugs were shocking.

After seeing our story this week of three-year-old boy Zaiden Kearley being left covered in blood from a used syringe he picked up in a park, she said: "It's the first time I've heard something like that - it's a blatant problem in a public space."

Mrs May said around 500 substances had already been banned and an expert panel was looking into how Ireland had introduced a blanket ban, where the "impact has been significant" and the number of head shops fell dramatically.

During a half-hour interview, she went on to praise Jeremy Browne, who is standing down as Taunton Deane's Libdem MP at the General Election in May.

"Jeremy Browne was a good MP and a good Minister (in the Home Office under Mrs May)," she said.

"I worked well with him and he was a good colleague to work with.

"He did a good job as a Minister and I was disappointed when he was sacked - you'd have to ask Nick Clegg why that happened.

"I wish him all the best for the future whatever he chooses to do, but I do hope he's replaced by a Conservative MP."

Mrs May says she hopes the Conservatives win an overall majority at the election.

"Then we can do the things that we feel are right and carry on dealing with the economy," added the Home Secretary.

"It's important that Rebecca Pow (the Conservative candidate) is elected, not just because she knows the area well, but because she'd make a fantastic MP and would really stand up for the people of Taunton Deane.

"Also, it's always good to have more women in the House of Commons."

Mrs May refused to be drawn on the question of the leadership of the Conservatives in the wak of David Cameron's recent announcement that he plans to stand down in five years' time if he stays in Number 10.

"Nothing David's said actually changes anything," she said.

"The key focus at the moment is getting Conservative MPs elected so we can be a majority Conservative Government with David Cameron as Prime Minister."

In response to a question about 570 police officers losing their jobs in Avon and Somerset in the last five years, Mrs May said: "We've had to take some tough decisions.

"But, if you look here in Avon and Somerset, crime has fallen by 21%.

"The police have looked at how they do their job and have been transforming how they do their job.

"What matters in terms of dealing with crime is how you deploy the resources at your disposal."

She added that crime is changing and officers now have to cope with computer crime such as fraud and sexual exploitation of children.