Useful links for finding help and support
If you are in immediate danger, need support right away, or a crime is happening now please contact the Police by calling 999. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, use the textphone service 18000 or text 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service (https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/contact-999-using-relay-uk.html).
If you’ve witnessed or been the victim of crime please report it to the Police. Reports are dealt with by the Police in exactly the same way whether you report it online or via phone. For non-emergency matters you can contact Essex Police on 101 or report via online at https://www.essex.police.uk/.
If you wish to report information about crime anonymously please visit Crimestoppers at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/Give-information.
The experience of being exploited, or seeing someone you care for being exploited, can be very challenging. It is not a fixed position and change is not impossible, so looking to others for support, who are either specialist organisations, or who have been through something similar, is an important step. We have listed several organisations below which are experienced in helping people in these situations.
Specialist organisations
| The NSPCC | The NSPCC has advice about how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and has information about the support available for children and young people. |
| CEOP | Child Exploitation and Online Protection – CEOP (part of the UK’s National Crime Agency) provides advice for parents about spotting if your child is in a gang. |
| The Children’s Society | The Children’s Society, eastern region for support and information. |
| Ben Kinsella Trust | Ben Kinsella Trust for resources and help regarding knife crime. |
| Fearless | Fearless, a website dedicated to supporting and allowing young people and those close to them to anonymously report exploitation. |
| Victim Support | Victim Support is able to offer to support if you have been either a direct or indirect victim of knife crime irrespective of whether your experience has been reported to the Police. |
Other support available
Knife crime and exploitation is not something that operates in a bubble. Young people can be affected by a number of issues which may lead them to be more vulnerable or more easily exploited.
Below are several links that may be useful to either you or someone close to you.
| Young Minds | Young Minds is a charity aiming to help young people with their mental health and coping strategies. |
| Kooth | Kooth is an online mental health and wellbeing community site. Young people across Essex can access free, safe and anonymous support from both peers and trained professionals. |
| The Mix | The Mix is a website dedicated to supporting those under the age of 25 so has a broader age range if you have left school and looking for support. |
