Anonymous ‘Fearless’ service launches to attract information about knife crime
Just one in five people in this area are confident that young people would share information with the police if they knew someone was carrying a knife, a survey has revealed.
The YouGov research, commissioned by charity Crimestoppers, also found people in Yorkshire are more than twice as confident young people locally would share that information with an anonymous service (47%).
The findings raise concerns that vital information about knife crime could be going unreported, despite the devastating impact serious violence has on victims, families and communities.
While the YouGov research found confidence in young people sharing information about knife crime with police is low across Yorkshire, the survey suggests anonymity could make a significant difference.
Fear of retaliation also remains a significant barrier.
More than four in ten (41%) people in Yorkshire cite fear of retaliation if they report crime as a reason they might not report information about crime to the police, among a range of options.
The regional findings come as Crimestoppers launches a new campaign through its youth service, Fearless.org, after the research also revealed a significant reporting gap among young people.
A spokesperson said: “Fearless is Crimestoppers’ dedicated youth service, providing young people with trusted information about crime, personal safety and the law, alongside a safe and completely anonymous way to pass on information about crime. Independent of the police, Fearless.org never asks for a name or any details that could identify the person making the report.
“Through this campaign, the charity hopes more young people will understand there is a safe, anonymous way to share information that could help prevent knife crime and protect others.”
Anyone with information about knife crime or other serious criminal activity can contact Fearless anonymously by visiting Fearless.org.