In a bid to help fight knife crime, the charity Crimestoppers is targeting a campaign at young people in ten regions across England and Wales.
It’s to encourage young people to pass on information about who is carrying knives in their schools, by sending a text message to a dedicated anonymous hotline.
The charity’s new method of receiving vital crime information, which guarantees the mobile phone user’s anonymity, will be publicised in schools, colleges and youth clubs in the ten areas of England and Wales which are taking part in the government’s Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP).
Crimestoppers has been running the scheme in London since the summer and has so far received over 40 pieces of actionable information which has been passed onto law enforcement. With support from the Home Office the charity is now able to extend the service to the TKAP police force areas.
This new route for passing on information to Crimestoppers has been introduced during a landmark year for the charity which is celebrating 20 years of fighting crime.
Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, founder and Chairman of Crimestoppers, said: “Crimestoppers has come a long way since I established the charity 20 years ago, and so has technology. The huge popularity of texting, especially amongst young people, has given us a valuable opportunity to engage with school students to encourage them to pass on information about knife crime in a quick and easy way whilst maintaining their anonymity. A simple text could help save a life in the future.”
The scheme has won support from the Tottenham Hotspur captain and England defender, Ledley King, who has direct experience of growing up in an inner city area in London, he said: “I understand some of the issues facing young people and my work with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation shows that issues can often be helped by providing positive alternatives. Knife crime and anti-social behaviour is a problem and is something we should all pull together in tackling. Everyone is entitled to live without fear and I’d encourage anyone to use the Crimestoppers text number and support the Tackling Knives Action Programme.”
Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary, added: “The message is clear – if you know somebody who is carrying a knife, you have a responsibility to pass the information on. We are determined to do all we can to get weapons off our streets and we are taking a range of action to tackle knife crime, but we can’t do this on our own. We all need to work together to make a difference and I am delighted that Crimestoppers are standing shoulder to shoulder with us in the fight against knife crime.”
