A new national campaign is encouraging young people to speak up about knife crime — and helping them do so without putting themselves at risk.
Knife crime can be a difficult subject for parents to talk about with their children.
For many young people, the fear isn’t just about knives themselves. It can be about what might happen if they tell someone that a friend, classmate or another young person is carrying one.
Will people find out who told? Could they get into trouble? Could they be called a “snitch”? Could speaking up make the situation more dangerous?
These are very real concerns for young people, and they can sometimes mean that important information isn’t shared.
A new national campaign from Fearless, the youth service of Crimestoppers, is trying to change that.
Charlie’s story
The campaign has been launched in partnership with Charlie’s Promise, a charity created by the family of 17-year-old Charlie Cosser.
Charlie was fatally stabbed in West Sussex in July 2023.
His parents, Martin and Tara Cosser, have since dedicated themselves to raising awareness of knife crime and helping prevent other families from experiencing the devastating loss they have suffered.
As part of the new campaign, Charlie’s parents are sharing their son’s story and encouraging young people to understand that speaking up about concerns could potentially help prevent another tragedy.
They have also become Fearless Ambassadors.
Read the full Charlie’s Story campaign on the Crimestoppers website
Why young people don’t always speak up
Research carried out for the campaign highlights the challenge.
According to research commissioned by Fearless, only 31% of 16 to 25-year-olds surveyed said they would be very likely to tell the police if they knew someone was carrying a knife and believed it could potentially result in someone being seriously injured or killed.
When they were given an anonymous way of providing information, that figure increased to 51%.
That difference is important.
It suggests that some young people may want to do the right thing but are held back by concerns about their own safety or identity.
You don’t have to confront someone
One of the most important messages for young people is that speaking up does not mean confronting someone yourself.
If a child or teenager believes someone is carrying a knife, they should never put themselves in danger by trying to take the knife away, challenging the person or attempting to intervene.
Their own safety comes first.
Instead, they should move away from the situation and tell a trusted adult or use an appropriate reporting service.
What is Fearless?
Fearless is the dedicated youth service from Crimestoppers.
It allows young people aged 11 to 25 to provide information about crime 100% anonymously.
Fearless says that it does not ask for the person’s name or contact details and that information provided anonymously cannot be traced back to the person reporting it.
For a young person who is worried about being identified, this can provide an alternative to staying silent.
What should parents talk to their children about?
Parents don’t need to have one big, serious conversation about knife crime.
Small conversations can often be more effective.
It’s worth making sure children understand a few simple principles:
Your safety comes first
If a situation feels dangerous, get away from it. A young person should never put themselves in danger because they feel they need to help.
Don’t carry a knife for protection
Some young people may believe that carrying a knife will make them safer.
In reality, carrying a knife can make a dangerous situation considerably more serious.
Talk to your child about alternative ways of dealing with situations where they feel threatened or unsafe.
Don’t confront someone
If they believe someone has a knife, they should not challenge them or try to take it away.
Get to a safe place and tell someone who can help.
Talk to a trusted adult
Encourage children to come to you if they’re worried about something they’ve seen, heard or been told.
They may be worried that they’ll get into trouble, but keeping communication open can make it much easier for them to ask for help.
Know that anonymous reporting is an option
Young people may not realise that they can provide information about crime anonymously.
Knowing this option exists could make the difference between remaining silent and sharing information that could help prevent someone from being hurt.
What if my child knows someone carrying a knife?
This can be particularly difficult for a young person.
They might know the person involved. They might even consider them a friend.
They may also be worried about what will happen if they tell someone.
The important thing is to avoid putting them under pressure to investigate the situation themselves.
Instead, encourage them to get somewhere safe and speak to a trusted adult or an appropriate organisation.
If they have information about a crime and want to remain anonymous, they can contact Fearless.
Parents can make a difference
Children don’t always tell adults when something is worrying them.
Sometimes they are frightened. Sometimes they don’t want to get someone else into trouble. And sometimes they simply don’t know whether what they’ve seen or heard is important enough to mention.
That’s why regular, calm conversations about safety are so valuable.
Let your child know that they can talk to you without immediately being judged or punished.
Most importantly, make sure they understand that they don’t have to deal with dangerous situations themselves.
One conversation could make a difference
Charlie’s story is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences that knife crime can have on young people, families and entire communities.
The new Fearless campaign is asking young people to consider whether sharing information could help prevent another family from experiencing a similar loss.
For parents, the message is equally important: talk to your children about knife crime, make sure they know how to stay safe and let them know where they can turn if they are worried.
Speaking up doesn’t mean putting yourself in danger.
Sometimes, simply sharing what you know with the right people could help prevent someone from being seriously hurt.
Find out more
You can read the full campaign story, watch Charlie’s story and find out more about anonymous reporting through Fearless:
Charlie’s Story – Fearless launches national knife crime campaign
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.