Charlie’s Story: Fearless and Charlie’s Promise launch powerful national knife crime campaign

Fearless, the youth service of independent charity Crimestoppers, has partnered with Charlie’s Promise to launch its biggest-ever awareness campaign, placing the story of 17-year-old Charlie Cosser at its heart.

The new film, Charlie’s Story, shares the devastating reality of Charlie’s death through his parents, Martin and Tara Cosser, while delivering an incredibly important message to young people: if you know that somebody is carrying a knife, there is a safe and completely anonymous way to speak up before violence escalates.

Charlie was just 17 when he was fatally stabbed at a house party in West Sussex in July 2023. Following his death, Martin and Tara established Charlie’s Promise, turning unimaginable loss into a determined campaign to educate young people about knife crime, encourage safer choices and prevent other families experiencing the same devastation. Charlie’s Promise is now a registered charity working across the country.

The new Fearless campaign is supported by national YouGov research commissioned by Crimestoppers and Fearless.

Only 31% of 16 to 25-year-olds surveyed said they would be very likely to give information directly to police if they knew somebody was carrying a knife and believed it could result in somebody being seriously injured or killed.

When young people were offered an anonymous way to provide that information, the figure increased to 51%.

The research also found that 23% of young people said uncertainty over whether their information was significant enough could prevent them speaking to police, while 16% said not knowing how to provide the information could stop them coming forward.

That is exactly why awareness of Fearless.org matters.

Fearless gives young people aged 11 to 25 a completely anonymous way to provide information about crime online or by telephone. It is independent of the police, does not ask for names, contact information or identifying details, and states that calls and online reports cannot be traced back to the person providing the information.

For Paramind Medical Ltd, Charlie’s Story carries a particularly personal significance.

Our founder, Lee Carr, was one of the first Paramedics to attend Charlie on the night he was stabbed. Charlie’s Promise has therefore become a charity that will forever remain incredibly close to our hearts.

Lee Said “To see Charlie’s family transform their loss into something that is educating young people, challenging knife crime and without a doubt, saving lives is extraordinarily powerful”

This film deserves to be seen.

We encourage everyone reading this to watch Charlie’s Story and, just as importantly, share it. Every share helps the campaign reach another young person, parent, school or community. If it gives just one person the confidence to anonymously share information about somebody carrying a knife, that information could prevent another young person being seriously injured or killed.

Please watch the video, share Charlie’s Story and help amplify Charlie’s Promise.

You can learn more about the charity and support its work at:

Charlie’s Promise – https://www.charliespromise.org

Young people can learn more about Fearless and provide information completely anonymously through Fearless.org. In an immediate emergency or where somebody is in danger, call 999.