Using cyberspace to tackle gun and knife crimes

[27 June 2008]

The charity Crimestoppers aims to deter young people from getting involved in gun and knife crimes by dedicating a week on the subject this summer using its youth website www.shadowcs.co.uk.

The anti-gun and knife crime week will run from Monday 30 June – Sunday 6 July. During the week, all online discussions - where users remain anonymous - will revolve around gun and knife crimes. Teenagers will be able to play the site's new ‘Gun Runner' platform game where players have to collect guns and put them in a crusher, as well as the existing ‘Knife Drop' game. A young group called ‘Street Movementz' has produced the song Anti-gun and knives especially for Crimestoppers and it is available for download from the Shadow website.

Crimestoppers' Head of Youth, Phil Pyatt said: “Since the launch of Shadow CS we have received some very sensitive anonymous emails relating to a range of crimes, including gun and knife crimes, and we have been able to provide clear advice on the best options that are available to those young people. With the internet being possibly the most accessible way of communicating with young people, it's important to provide a site where they can discuss crime topics that affect them and seek advice anonymously with out fear of reprisals.”

Crimestoppers conducts its youth work under ‘Shadow CS' – www.shadowcs.co.uk which is aimed at ages 11 – 16+ and features gossip, music, advice, discussion forums on crimes that affect young people, and it also provides legal information. Launched in October 2007, Shadow CS has already received 1.3 million hits from 91 countries.

- ends -

For further information please contact Lisa Gains, Media Officer on 020 8254 3226 or lisa.gains@crimestoppers-uk.org .

Notes to editors
Crimestoppers is an independent charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking criminals off the streets. Around 17 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every 5 days is charged with murder, as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received almost 950,000 calls with useful information, resulting in over 84,000 arrests and charges. Over £100 million worth of property has been recovered and over £148 million worth of drugs. Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988 he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media. Charity number: 1108687