A NEW anti-knife campaign is urging young people to come forward about friends and classmates they know are carrying weapons.

Fearless.org - the youth programme of Crimestoppers - and the No Knives Better Lives programme run by YouthLink Scotland, have joined forces to launch a hard-hitting digital campaign with support from the Scottish Government.

At the heart of the campaign is an emotional podcast where mum Lynn Burns talks about losing her only child.

Sam was murdered in 2013 and died from a single stab wound to his chest.

Lynn wanted to tell Sam’s story in order to help young people understand the consequences of carrying a weapon and to encourage them to contact Fearless.org, anonymously, with information about weapons to help prevent further deaths.

Lyndsay McDade, National Youth Projects Coordinator for the charity Crimestoppers Scotland, said: “Firstly, I’m so grateful to Lynn for being willing to share Sam’s story with young people all over Scotland.

"From listening to her speak, I have absolutely no doubt that her experiences as a mum losing her son, will really make young people take stock and consider what they can do to stop another mum from ever feeling that pain.

"In our experience, young people want to do the right thing and speak up, but they're often worried about being labelled a grass or physical reprisals.

"Today, we’re urging young people to continue to tell our charity who they know or suspect regularly carries a knife or other weapons.

"It only takes two minutes to complete our simple anonymous online form at fearless.org and we guarantee you’ll stay 100% anonymous.

"We can’t trace IP addresses or any contact details that could identify you.

"Nobody will ever know the information came from you.

"Please don't wait until someone gets badly hurt or killed before speaking up to our charity and telling us what you know 100% anonymously."

The youth organisations will also use real-life anonymised case studies to share the stories of three young people affected by knife crime.

They are encouraging young people to speak up to help make their communities safer by giving information online, 100% anonymously via Fearless.org

Orielle Taylor, Senior Development Officer at YouthLink Scotland said: "Luckily in Scotland today, it’s only a minority of young people who carry knives.

"That is why it is so important for all young people to know what they can do if they know that someone is carrying."

Justice Secretary Keith Brown added: "We know that levels of handling offensive weapons have fallen drastically over the last decade, but we cannot be complacent, there is still much more we need to do to prevent more harm and heartache.

"That is why I am supporting this campaign and urge all young people to listen to Lynn’s story and report anonymously if you know, or suspect someone is carrying a knife.

"This could make a lifesaving difference and will help keep our communities safe for everyone."