As society opens up, Crimestoppers appeals for anonymous information on those carrying weapons in the East Midlands & warns that violent crime remains a persistent but preventable problem

Charity’s appeal follows Silence Won’t Stop Violence campaign last November which led to significant rise in info on gangs, weapons, County Lines and cuckooing

With society returning to something closer to normal, the charity Crimestoppers has launched an urgent appeal for information on those people in the East Midlands carrying weapons.

Last November, Crimestoppers ran its first-ever Silence Won’t Stop Violence campaign which saw the public respond positively and anonymously. Information on gangs rose by 17%, County Lines up by 15%, cuckooing up by two-thirds and information on firearms rose by 5% compared to the period prior to the appeal.

Whilst official statistics reveal knife crime has now fallen for four quarters in a row, we should not become complacent. Last year:

• 275 people lost their life to a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales
• 4,620 people were admitted to hospitals in England for attacks by sharp objects.

As the pandemic continues to impact the NHS, we should all help protect communities and health service from harm.

In 2019, over half of violent incidents across the UK were not reported to the police. Crimestoppers believes that Silence Won’t Stop Violence and is informing people across the East Midlands that everyone has the means and a voice to anonymously speak up to help stop or solve violent crime. Indeed, last year our charity passed on over 12,850 anonymous pieces of information about all crime types given to us from the public across the region.

The pandemic has also put young people in a vulnerable position, due to a lack of employment opportunities. In 2020, referrals of children suspected to be victims of  County Lines gangs increased by 31%*.

Young people are at a greater risk of being exploited by these gangs due to false promises of easy money. We want to raise awareness amongst our older digital audiences of our youth service, Fearless.org, to ensure that anyone, regardless of age, feels comfortable speaking up and telling us what they know.

Here are some anonymised examples of information the charity has recently received nationally:

• Heroin and crack cocaine dealers, who carried knives and guns, arrested and charged after information we passed on led police to find thousands of pounds in cash, along with guns, ammunition and a large quantity of class A drugs.
• Suspects arrested thanks to Crimestoppers information regarding a violent attack on group of young people where baseball bats and knives caused serious injuries including knife wounds.
• Individual stopped in his car after anonymous information we had received over weapons which led police to discover a number of knives and an imitation firearm.
• Dangerous on the run individual wanted for firearms offences and for causing serious injury found thanks to anonymous information our charity received following an appeal.

For more information about the campaign, please visit our website.

Lydia Patsalides, Regional Manager for the East Midlands at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “With violence and gang crime being a persistent, but preventable problem, our charity is relaunching our campaign and supporting a public health approach to tackling violence. This means recognising it requiring a society-wide response, so we are encouraging people in the East Midlands – who are in the know about those carrying weapons or involved in violent crime – to not be silenced, but to speak up anonymously.

“We know that you may be personally close to crime but may also want to do the right thing and bring violence in your community to an end. No matter how far down the wrong road you’ve gone – you can ALWAYS turn back. You do have options. You have the ability to prevent violent crime through telling us what you know in advance of planned violent attacks, or passing on information that can help solve crime and bring justice to victims and their families.

“Our aim is to drive people to report what they know about violent crime incidents or planned attacks using our unique anonymous reporting service, via Crimestoppers-uk.org, by calling freephone 0800 555 111, or for young people to use Fearless.org. Together, we can help reduce the harm caused to young lives and communities across the country.”

To report what you know about crime 100% anonymously, visit the charity’s website Crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in a simple and secure anonymous online form or call their 24/7 UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111, 365 days of the year. In an emergency, always call 999. Young people can also use our resources, find advice and use our anonymous online form at Fearless.org.

Please note: Computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. For telephone calls, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and the charity has never traced a call.

Are you looking for ways to be more sustainable? Would you like to know more about the amazing things going on in Lincolnshire to tackle climate change?

If yes,  join us on 13^th October at the Epic Centre in Lincoln for a day of looking to the future and discovering new ways of working together to reach net zero carbon emissions. Hear from our line-up of inspirational speakers, including the chair of the UK Climate Change Committee Lord Deben, the CEO of  the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) Sarah Mukherjee and many more.  

Cllr Colin Davie, executive member for environment at Lincolnshire County Council, comments: “We’re delighted to be bringing together experts, communities, individuals and businesses to inspire action, make changes and see how we can work better together to make a real difference to our environment.

“As a council, we’re committed to being zero carbon by 2050, or sooner if practically possible, and we’re well on the way to achieving this. We want to do more though, and we know there are other ways to make changes. We hope this event will help us meet new like-minded partners and inspire the change necessary if we are to work for a better future and reach our net zero target.”

A series of free virtual events will be running from 20 September, ahead of the Climate Summit event. These will cover a range of topics on how to be more sustainable at both work and home.

Date	Webinar
Monday 20 September 10am – 11.30am	Make your business energy efficient
Tuesday 21 September 11am – 12.30pm	Sustainable transport for your business
Wednesday 22 September 6pm – 7.30pm	Community-led climate action
Thursday 23 September 6pm – 7.30pm	Create a low carbon home

For more information or to sign up, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/green-masterplan

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Looking for ways to become more sustainable? If so, then take part in Lincolnshire County Council’s first Climate Change Summit webinars.

From 20 – 23 September, residents and businesses can talk to experts about building design, sustainable homes, energy efficiency, biomethene power, electric vehicles and community climate action, amongst other climate topics.

Cllr Colin Davie, executive member for environment at Lincolnshire County Council, explains: “If you are looking for more ways to be more sustainable or would like to know more about the amazing things going on in Lincolnshire to tackle climate change, these webinars are perfect.

“We have some brilliant speakers including Richard Porter from Nettleham Parish Council who has been instrumental in developing Nettleham Parish Council’s climate change strategy and Roberta Bray from Plastic Free Sleaford on how we can help create plastic free communities.

“There’s also loads of helpful tips on how to be more sustainable at work, at home and in your community. There is something for everyone!

“Join us to be part of the debate on climate change, and help us explore new ways for our communities reach net zero and accelerate action towards a greener future.”

To sign up to the free webinar series visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/greenmasterplan