Crimestoppers, the independent charity, has announced a national campaign tackling the key risks students confront on and off campus.
Key issues include:
Money mule recruitment and financial fraud
Drink and vape spiking
Ketamine use and its dangers
Theft of electronics in student accommodation
Recent UK data reveals three in five students have been approached to become money mules, with fraud cases among under 21s up 78%.
Drink spiking affects 1.2 million adults annually, while ketamine use among young people has soared 231% since 2013. Acquisitive crime – especially theft of phone and laptops – is a daily risk for students, made worse by the cost-of-living crisis.
Partnering with UK universities and student unions, the initiative includes dedicated resources, a “Students: stay safe” webpage, and active social media engagement.
Students are urged to look out for each other and report suspicions safely and anonymously. Crimestoppers and its youth service, Fearless, offer reporting channels designed for students. “Your Voice, Your Power” is the heart of the campaign – students are community protectors, not passive victims.
Mick Duthie, Crimestoppers Director of Operations, said:
“Student life should be safe, not stressful. We want students to spot the signs, share what they know, and protect themselves and their friends. Every piece of information could stop harm before it starts – and it’s anonymous. By coming together, we can keep student communities secure.”
For more information, visit our dedicated student safety webpage, or follow our campaign posts across social media.
Please note: No-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. With Fearless.org and Crimestoppers-uk.org, computer IP addresses are never traced. For telephone calls to the independent charity’s UK Contact Centre, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility. You will stay 100% anonymous. Always.
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