The parents of a Surrey teenager who was fatally stabbed at a party in West Sussex are urging young people to share information that could prevent knife crime and save another family from experiencing the same devastating loss.

Charlie Cosser, from Milford near Guildford, was just 17 when he was fatally stabbed in West Sussex in 2023.

His father, Martin Cosser, is now sharing Charlie’s story as part of a campaign encouraging young people who know someone is carrying a knife to speak up before it is too late.

Their call comes as new national YouGov research, commissioned by the independent charity Crimestoppers, reveals that in the South East around 1 in 5 people (22%) felt confident that young people in their area would share information about knife crime with police. However, if they could share information with an anonymous service, this went up to almost half (46%).

Nationally, fewer than one in three (31%) 16 to 25-year-olds say they would be very likely to share information with the police if they knew somebody was carrying a knife and believed it could lead to someone being seriously injured or killed. This compares with 45% of adults overall.

Young people across the UK are also less likely to know how to report crime or recognise when the information they have could be important. Around one in five (23%) say uncertainty about whether their information is significant enough might stop them speaking to the police.

One in six (16%) young people say not knowing how to report could prevent them from sharing information.

The research also found that anonymity could make a significant difference. While 31% of young people say they would be very likely to report information about knife crime directly to the police, this rises to 51% when they are offered an anonymous way to speak up.

Martin Cosser, Charlie’s father and co-founder of Charlie’s Promise, said:

“Charlie’s death has left a hole in our family that can never be filled. No parent should have to experience the pain of losing their child to knife crime.

“There may be young people who know someone is carrying a knife but feel frightened, uncertain or worried about what will happen if they speak up. I want them to understand that they do not have to give their name or put themselves at risk.

“Even a small piece of information could prevent another young person from being hurt and another family from suffering the heartbreak we live with every day.”

The campaign is being delivered by Fearless, the dedicated youth service of the independent charity Crimestoppers. It uses Charlie’s story to help young people recognise the potentially life-saving importance of sharing information about knife crime.

Through Fearless.org, it gives young people aged 11 to 25 information about crime and provides a completely anonymous way to speak up. It is independent of the police and does not ask for a person’s name, contact information or any details that could identify them.

Crimestoppers cannot trace phone calls or online reports, and information submitted through Fearless.org is passed on without revealing who provided it.

Only 35% of 16 to 25-year-olds currently know that information can be passed on anonymously through Crimestoppers, compared with 55% of adults overall. The campaign aims to close that awareness gap and reassure young people that they have a safe way to act on what they know.

Young people can learn more and share information about knife crime completely anonymously at Fearless.org.