Martin Cosser launches campaign to combat knife crime

Martin Cosser has launched a campaign urging young people to report knife possession to prevent further tragedies. The initiative follows the 2023 fatal stabbing of his 17-year-old son, Charlie Cosser, in West Sussex.

Research from YouGov for the charity Crimestoppers indicates significant barriers to reporting. In the South East, only 22 per cent of people believe young people would report knife crime directly to the police, though this figure increases to 46 per cent when anonymous reporting is available. Nationally, only 31 per cent of 16 to 25-year-olds say they would be very likely to report someone carrying a knife if they believed it could lead to serious injury or death.

The campaign is supported by Fearless, a Crimestoppers youth service. It provides an anonymous platform for individuals aged 11 to 25 to share information and seek advice without revealing their identities.