After two fatal stabbings in London NW5 on on Tuesday night, February 20, the charity and free-phone crime reporting line Crimestoppers has appealed to Londoners who have information about the crimes to use the phone and online service. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have launched separate investigations. It brings the total number of fatalities in London involving a blade up to 16 this year.
Crimestoppers’ Director of Operations, Roger Critchell said: “Crimestoppers charity has taken over 130 reports on knife crime in London so far this year. We are reminding the communities affected by these recent incidents that you can take steps to protect your loved ones by using our service. We give people the power to pass on information 100 per cent anonymously, without any personal details being taken. Our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe wherever you live or work. We won’t judge. Won’t ask your name or where you live. Just take the information that you have and pass it on for you.
“We understand that people might be scared to speak up, to give information about someone they know. In 30 years our charity has never revealed anyone’s identity or compromised their anonymity. We would ask that anyone who has information, no matter how small, to speak up for your community and help keep them safe. Our staff are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. You’ll remain 100pc anonymous. Always.”
The Metropolitan Police have described knife crime as a priority; and in January the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced that he was allocating an extra £15m in the police budget for next year to combat knife crime. For more about the cases visit the Met Police website.
