An increase in Southampton serious assaults prompts our campaign to tackle knife crime

After a spike in serious assaults on young people with weapons in Southampton, we are encouraging people to contact us 100% anonymously to report crime. 

There has been a 13% rise in weapon offences in Southampton between 1 April and 31 July, compared to the same four-month period last year. *
 
Following a knife crime awareness campaign in Hampshire earlier this year, our new local initiative promotes our unique service to young people in the City to help dispel myths about knife carrying. It also encourages people to make that difficult phone call or to fill in an online anonymous form about those who carry knives.
 
Fearless, the youth service of Crimestoppers, gives young people an option of staying 100% anonymous when speaking up about crime. Information can be given via Fearless.org or by calling freephone 0800 555 111 at any time or online, here on our website. We are independent of the police. 
 

“The consequences of a young person carrying a knife in Southampton can be severe and have a devastating impact on the person responsible for using it, the victim and the wider local community.
 
“Asking young people to speak up about crime anonymously and without fear of retribution is at the heart of Fearless. In this campaign, we particularly want to address myths around knife carrying which are often held by young people. We also want to show that by reporting those who are carrying, they could be helping to prevent injury and even save a life. We are also focusing on adults who may know about someone carrying a knife. 

“Our charity has always kept its promise of anonymity to everyone who contacts us. Young people can pass on crime information 100% anonymously at Fearless.org. Information can also be given by calling freephone 0800 555 111 at any time or via our quick and easy online form.
 
“Our charity takes crime information anonymously and passes on what we’re told. We are proud of our independence from the police and our guarantee of protecting the identity of everyone who contacts us.”
Beth Simpson, Crimestoppers Hampshire Regional Manager 

 
Visit Fearless.org for more information on Fearless and the resources it has available for young people and their peers.
 
Please note: With Crimestoppers-uk.org and Fearless.org, computer IP addresses are never traced, and no-one will ever know you contacted our charity. For telephone calls to Crimestoppers via freephone 0800 555 111, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced. 
 

More information about our campaign can be found here 

 *Information from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary