The crime-reporting charity Crimestoppers has launched an appeal for information on those carrying weapons. Last November, Crimestoppers ran its first Silence Won’t Stop Violence campaign. Information on gangs rose by 17pc, ‘County Lines’ drugs trading up by 15pc, cuckooing (also to do with the drugs trade) up by two-thirds and information on firearms rose by 5pc compared to the period prior to the appeal.
Crimestoppers makes the point that last year: 275 people lost their life to a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales; and some 4,620 people were admitted to hospitals in England for attacks by sharp objects. And as for official statistics, in 2019, over half of violent incidents were not reported to the police, Crimestoppers says. It believes that ‘Silence Won’t Stop Violence’ and is informing the public that everyone has the means and a voice to anonymously speak up to help stop or solve violent crime.
The pandemic has also put young people in a vulnerable position, due to a lack of employment. In 2020, referrals of children suspected to be victims of by County Lines gangs increased by 31pc. Young people are at a greater risk of being exploited by these gangs due to false promises of easy money. Hence the charity wants to raise awareness among older digital audiences of their youth service, Fearless.org, to ensure that anyone, regardless of age, feels comfortable speaking up and telling us what they know.
Here are some anonymised examples of information the charity has recently received:
Heroin and crack cocaine dealers, who carried knives and guns, were arrested and charged after information we passed on led police to find thousands of pounds in cash, along with guns, ammunition and large quantity of class A drugs being found. Suspects have been arrested thanks to info passed to Crimestoppers of a violent attack on groups of young people where baseball bats and knives caused serious injuries including knife wounds.
A driver stopped in his car after anonymous information received of weapons which led to police to discover a number of knives and an imitation firearm. And a dangerous on the run individual wanted for firearms offences and for causing serious injury was found, thanks to anonymous information the charity received following an appeal.
Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at Crimestoppers, said: “With violence and gang crime being a persistent, but preventable problem, our charity is relaunching our campaign and supporting a public health approach to tackling violence. This means recognising it requiring a society-wide response, so we are encouraging people – who are in the know about those carrying weapons or involved in violent crime – to not be silenced, but to speak up anonymously.
“We know that you may be personally close to crime but may also want to do the right thing and bring violence in your community to an end. No matter how far down the wrong road you’ve gone – you can ALWAYS turn back. You do have options. You have the ability to prevent violent crime through telling us what you know in advance of planned violent attacks, or passing on information that can help solve crime and bring justice to victims and their families.
“Our aim is to drive people to report what they know about violent crime incidents or planned attacks using our unique anonymous reporting service, via Crimestoppers-uk.org, by calling freephone 0800 555 111, or for young people to use Fearless.org. Together, we can help reduce the harm caused to young lives and communities across the country.”
