Crimestoppers fight in the war against knife crime

[6 March 2009]

Following the survey by the Youth Justice Board (released today) which found that nearly one in three children admitted to having carried a knife or a gun, the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, wants to highlight its fight against knife crime.

Crimestoppers launched a text messaging service in November 2008 aimed at young people to get them to pass on information about people they know are carrying a knife. The initiative, supported by the Home Office, is being run in the ten regions across England and Wales which are taking part in the government's Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP).

So far, the charity has received 375 text messages with information that has been useful to law enforcement.

Mick Laurie, Crimestoppers' Chief Executive said: “The Youth Justice Board's findings clearly demonstrate that much still needs to be done in the fight against gun and knife crime. Crimestoppers' text messaging initiative is proving to be very beneficial to law enforcement to help track down those who are carrying a knife, which with early intervention will hopefully prevent a more serious crime being committed.

“Through our youth work we aim to educate young people on the dangers of carrying guns and knives to not only try to deter them from committing these crimes, but to also reassure them that they can pass on information about crime anonymously to Crimestoppers and no one will ever find out it was them.”

To find out more on Crimestoppers' fight against knife crime visit: www.Crimestoppers-uk.org/knifecrime and our youth website www.shadowcs.co.uk where young people can pass on information via an anonymous online form.

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For more information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Notes to editors

Crimestoppers

• 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 five days is charged with murder.
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 89,000 arrests and charges. Over £105 million worth of property has been recovered and nearly £165 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.