Residents and businesses in Shirley are set to benefit from a new multi-agency face-to-face front counter on Shirley High Street, following a successful campaign and petition led by Satvir Kaur MP to bring a police counter back to Shirley.
In the wake of a particularly difficult period for Shirley High Street last summer, marked by persistent problems with anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, the Southampton Test MP launched a petition and campaigned for a permanent police front counter to be reinstated in the area.
With scores of residents signing the petition, and with the backing of local councillors, funding for the new facility has now been secured through the government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund, enabling the counter to be established within the old Housing Office in Shirley Precinct.
Working with Southampton City Council, the new facility will form part of a multi-agency hub, bringing together key services (including the Police and the Council Community Safety Teams) under one roof to better support the local community and tackle anti-social behaviour.
Backed by £100,000 of Pride in Place funding, the new front-counter facility will provide residents with easier access to face-to-face support, crime reporting and reassurance, right at the heart of Shirley Precinct. The intention is that this visible presence will improve confidence, support prevention and strengthen enforcement, to tackle anti-social behaviour on the High Street and beyond.
The funding also provides for a safe 1-2-1 area, a toilet facility and small kitchenette to be made available, providing a welcoming safe space for the local community to meet and raise issues with relevant agencies.
Satvir Kaur MP said:
“Time and again, I hear from local residents and businesses that more needs to be done to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in our neighbourhoods. This is particularly true on Shirley High Street, where the situation got so bad it made the national news.
It’s why I campaigned to ensure we have more police and CCTV on our streets to tackle the issue head on, which government is delivering. Now, I’m delighted that my campaign and petition to bring a front counter back to Shirley has been successful, and we will be bringing the disused Housing Office in Shirley Precinct back to life. We’ll be establishing a front counter for reporting crime and accessing support as part of an enhanced, multi-agency hub in a space that has been left empty for far too long – demonstrating the difference the government’s Pride in Place funding can make to communities.
Huge thanks to everyone who signed my petition and helped make this happen. We did it! It’s great to see other agencies wanting to get involved too, so residents can access more frontline services in a space closer to where they live. Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live and work and I’ll keep working with you to make this a reality for our communities.”
Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:
“This is a great example of what can be achieved when local people, government and the Council work together. The new community hub will provide a visible and accessible point of contact for residents to report things like anti-social behaviour, as well accessing general advice and support.
Meanwhile, our wider investment in libraries is transforming them into vibrant community spaces that we know residents really value.
We’re proud to support this initiative in Shirley and to continue investing in services that make a real difference to our neighbourhoods.”
Further details about opening dates and services available at the new front counter facility will be announced in due course.