YOUTHS and children have been urged to report knife crime anonymously when they encounter it as part of a bid to rid the streets of dangerous blades.
The Leader reported recently on the findings of UK-wide research carried out by YouGov and commissioned by Crimestoppers, which raised concerns that vital intelligence about knife crime may be going unreported.
UK-wide, just 31 per cent of 16 to 25-year-olds said they would be very likely to report information about knife crime directly to the police, compared with 45 per cent of adults.
Knife crime campaigner Eddie Duggan, from Shotton, said: "I did read the report and I think it's because youngsters are afraid of authority and because of fear of repercussions.
"They don't want to be asked questions and it may well be that there's some peer pressure going on."
The research suggests that fear, mistrust, and uncertainty are major barriers preventing young people from coming forward, even when they have information that could prevent serious violence.
Among 16-to 25-year-olds UK-wide, 41 per cent said fear of retaliation could stop them from sharing information, while 28 per cent cited a lack of trust in the police as a barrier.
Mr Duggan, 59, said a reluctance by youths to report knife crime was "part and parcel of being part of a group."
He added that individuals on social media also influenced youths by portraying the carrying of blades as "hard and cool."
"A lot of these people who are carrying knives are living in areas where gang culture is high and crime rates are high," he said.
"They live in this bubble and see society from a completely different angle.
"That group of individuals from that age group are not going to go to the police - they're not going to want to say anything for fear of what might happen if they get found out.
"But it is extremely important to get knives off the streets.
"I would say to young people as a whole that there are ways to report these things anonymously.
"They don't need to report it directly to the police or let their peers know; they can do it though Crimestoppers.
"A lot of youngsters carry them thinking they will protect them, but it has the opposite effect.
"If that knife is pulled out, it's likely going to be used on the person holding it in the first place.
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"That's something young people need to recognise; don't carry a knife thinking it's going to protect you. It's not."
He emphasised the importance of reporting knife crime anonymously and added: "The other thing is if you're caught carrying a knife, it's life changing.
"You could be sentenced to imprisonment and that will change your life forever - and your family.
"It's not only the person carrying the knife who if affected by all of this; it's everyone around them... mothers, father, sisters, brothers - everyone."
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