Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley and former trauma surgeon, has seen first hand the devastating effect of knife crime, with too many lives lost and families shattered as a consequence.
In September 2024, Neil met with the Police and Crime Commissioner, where he received presentations from the Chief Constable, the Chief Finance Officer, the Director of the Violence Reduction Partnership, and the Chief Executive of the PCC’s Office.
Aligning with the national uplift of 20,000 Police Officers, brought in by the last Government, the performance of West Midlands Police has improved; with 999 and response wait times both significantly down. There has also been a reduction in crime by 10% for the 2023/24 period
However, incidents of knife crime remain high across the West Midlands. With his background in trauma care, and having personal experience of those affected through his work, Neil is campaigning for an urgent reduction in knife related crimes. Neil regularly receives updates from Solihull Police for information regarding knife and violent crimes.
In Parliament, Neil welcomed the Government’s decision to make a specific commitment of halving knife crime within decade. However, he has challenged the Solicitor General to provide further specifics on reducing violent crimes in general.
Additionally, Neil announced that, as his charity fundraiser for 2025, he will be raising money for defibrillators and bleed kits for the constituency, as he campaigns to improve the network of these life saving devices across Solihull West and Shirley.