Julian Knight, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Solihull, has met with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson for crunch talks over the future of the front desk at Shirley Police Station.
Julian put the case for the front desk remaining open to Mr Jamieson on the grounds that it provides a crucial community resource and a key means of gaining intelligence. Julian also pointed out the large number of signatures which had been gathered by a number of political parties across Shirley in support of keeping the front desk open.
“I wanted to give the message loud and clear that the front desk at Shirley police station isn’t just for reporting crime but also a community resource where everyone young or old can gain reassurance from the very visible presence of a police officer. Front desks can help not only detect but deter crime,” Julian stated. Mr Jamieson assured Mr Knight that there were no immediate plans for closure of the front desk.
Julian says he will put the extra time to good use to help save the front desk.
“Shirley is not one of the front desks down for immediate closure therefore we have time to lobby even harder. If I am elected MP in May I will use the position to try and save the front desk at Shirley police station.”
Julian and Mr Jamieson also discussed a fairer funding formula for police in the West Midlands and pledged to work together should Julian be elected in May as Solihull MP for a better deal for the region as a whole.
Julian stated that “Mr Jamieson may come from a different political party to me but I believe passionately that we should all put differences aside to work for the common good.”