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"What's the Point?": a new knife crime campaign encouraging communities to share knife carrying intelligence |
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We are launching our “What’s the Point?” knife crime intelligence campaign from today (Monday, 13 July 2026). The launch of this campaign comes ahead of schools breaking for the summer holidays. We know it can be worrying to hear about people being injured or killed by knives, the reality is that very few people carry knives, but if someone you know is carrying a knife it’s important you share information with either the police, or independent charities like CrimeStoppers and Fearless. The first part of our campaign shows what happens when we receive information about knife carrying, with the ultimate message being that no matter how you report information, our top priority is keeping you safe. This campaign is just one element of the work we are doing to help communities feel like they can share information about knife carrying. We know it can be extremely difficult to have these conversations, especially if the person is someone you know and care about; but sharing information could stop them from making a life-changing decision and save lives. Did you know that young people are more likely to disclose concerns to an adult they trust than contact the police, or anonymous organisations like Fearless. That’s why we want to give you access to the knowledge and support you need so you can have those conversations. We continue to use a multifaceted approach working with partners to tackle knife crime including stopping the sale and supply of knives solely intended to harm, finding and seizing knives and supporting our communities to feel safe, and we have amnesty bins the public can use to drop off their dangerous or unwanted knives and blades at the following police stations: Staines, Guildford, Caterham, Woking, Elmbridge. How to share information and concerns about knife carrying For non-emergencies you can contact Surrey Police directly either by calling 101, or by using the reporting form on our website. If there is an imminent danger or emergency, always call 999. Fearless is a dedicated youth service of the independent charity CrimeStoppers. Report 100% anonymously by using their online form or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Surrey Police will not contact you as we have no way of knowing who the information has come from. Please be advised information is not passed to Police straight away and it can take a few days for information to be shared. Resources Read our advice if you or someone you know needs support. ChildLine has counsellors to support young people 24 hours a day. Call them on 0800 1111. If you're a teacher, visit PSHE to find lesson plans around knife crime. Visit Charlie's Promise, a local charity dedicated to the memory of Charlie Cosser, who educate young people on the impact of knife crime. The Ben Kinsella Trust have free resources on their website for young people, teachers and practitioners, as well as for parents. There is a useful parent and carer guide which gives advice on how to have conversations with young people about knife crime. If there are areas where you live or spend time that don’t feel safe you can report this on a website called StreetSafe. The information is given to your local police force who can then look at what they can do to improve safety in that area What happens when you share information with the Police? Sharing information about knife crime or anything that doesn’t feel right can feel like a big step. You might be worried about what will happen next, or whether anyone will know it was you who shared the information. Here’s what you need to know. Your safety comes first Your identity is protected at all times Only specially trained staff can see where information came from If you’ve reported via a third party such as CrimeStoppers or Fearless, Surrey Police will not contact you as we have no way of knowing who the information came from Police will not take action if it puts you at risk What happens after you report something? 1. Your information is reviewed Specialist teams carefully assess what you’ve shared, including: How reliable it may be How the information was obtained 2. Your details are removed The information is edited and anonymised so it cannot be traced back to you. 3. It helps build the bigger picture Your information is combined with other reports to identify patterns and risks. 4. Decisions are made safely Police assess the level of risk and decide what action is appropriate. This might include: Offering help and support Working with schools or other services Further investigation 5. Checks are made before action Police do not act on unconfirmed information alone. They gather further information first. What’s the point? Every report matters. You don’t need to have all the details or be completely sure. Want to know more? Find out more about our “What's the Point?” campaign here.
Kind regards, Samantha Mack Corporate Communications and Engagement
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