YOUNG people across Scotland are being targeted by a new campaign to encourage them to speak up about violence and weapon possession.

The campaign launched last week by Fearless.org – the youth service of charity Crimestoppers – is raising awareness of the impact of violence and offers young people a way to report information or suspicions 100% anonymously.

That means no personal details are ever taken when you contact the charity.

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Funded by The Percy Hoskins Trust, the campaign features individuals talking about their own first-hand experiences of the pain and destruction violence has through a series of short podcasts which will be available to all secondary schools in Scotland.

Chief Inspector Neill Whiteside, Police Scotland’s Edinburgh Division, said: “The Cashback for Communities’ Police Scotland VOW Project fully supports our partners at Fearless in their campaign to encourage young people to speak up about violence and weapons to their charity in the knowledge that it is completely anonymous.

“Our mentors were delighted to contribute to the Fearless podcast and share their own experiences to encourage young people to make positive choices and to highlight the consequences of violence and weapons. Working alongside police officers our mentors will continue to support Fearless to make Scotland safer.”

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Lyndsay McDade, Fearless National Youth Projects Coordinator at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “The public health approach to violence taken in Scotland recognises that it is a preventable problem requiring a society-wide response. That’s why it’s so important to encourage young people to know more about the causes and impact whilst helping them play their part in finding solutions.

“Through our Silence Won’t Stop Violence campaign which is running across the whole of Scotland, we’re encouraging young people to be supported to talk about violence.

“This could be perhaps exploring the contributory causes of violence, it could be challenging the dangerous myths that exist around weapon possession or it could be making the decision to speak up with information to our charity 100% anonymously at fearless.org.

“All things that young people can do at home with parents/carers, at school and with their peers and youth workers in their local communities.

“If you know or suspect who is responsible for violent crime or regularly carries a weapon - you don’t need to put up with it. Our charity gives you a safe, tangible way to make a positive difference 100% anonymously.

“Violence in all its forms has a significant impact on our communities. Together, we can help reduce that harm.”