TENS of thousands of schoolchildren are being urged to send a text message to turn in fellow pupils who carry knives.
Police are targeting every child over 11 and urging them to anonymously name and shame anyone in their school who they know or suspect to be carrying a blade.
In total 100,000 people will be given a pocket-sized card telling them how to send the text – which is untraceable and protects their identity – and include the person’s nickname and school.
The campaign, called Game Over 4 Knives, is the latest measure in an ongoing war on knives in Southampton and is being spearheaded by charity Crimestoppers.
It is being backed by Jen Singleton, the mother of teenager Lewis, who was stabbed to death on a street in Woolston in March 2007.
Launched on Monday, it will see police visit every secondary school in the city to distribute the calling cards and posters which detail how to use the service.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here