As a former trauma surgeon, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst has seen the tragic impact of knife crime, lives lost, families devastated, and communities deeply affected. He is determined to make Solihull West & Shirley safer.
Drawing on his medical experience, Neil is calling for urgent action to tackle knife-related violence. He stays in close contact with Solihull Police and monitors local trends carefully.
In Parliament, Neil welcomed the Government’s pledge to halve knife crime within a decade and pressed for clearer national strategies to combat violent crime. His efforts have been recognised by the West Midlands Police Federation.
Neil is also campaigning for a dedicated police station to remain in Solihull; to boost visibility and strengthen community reassurance.
When access to Solihull’s weapon surrender bin was blocked in March 2025, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst acted without delay, working with local partners to have it swiftly cleared. Recognising the importance of giving communities the tools to stay safe, he has also formally requested a second surrender bin for Shirley.
In May, he raised over £3,000 for life-saving equipment, including defibrillators and bleed kits. He has delivered 'Stop the Bleed' training to local schoolchildren in partnership with the Daniel Baird Foundation and is working with citizenAID to expand this across schools.
Neil also supports the use of virtual reality tools to show young people the real consequences of carrying a knife. He is supporting the delivery of these programmes in our local schools.
He remains fully committed to reducing knife crime, improving public safety, and ensuring Solihull West & Shirley has the resources it needs to stay safe.