In this episode we hear from Lauren and Georgie from Fearless (part of Crimestoppers).
Recently the SSCP were asked a powerful question: “If a Young Person has a concern about exploitation or any type of crime, how can they report it?” It’s a vital issue—especially when many of the reporting routes we often discuss are designed with professionals in mind, not young people themselves.
To explore this further, we had the privilege of speaking with Lauren and Georgie from Fearless, a youth-focused arm of Crimestoppers, who are doing incredible work to bridge this gap.
Together, we unpacked:
- How young people can report crime anonymously and safely
- Common barriers that prevent them from speaking up
- How professionals can support and encourage reporting
- Ways to start conversations with young people about crime and exploitation
Fearless offers accessible, youth-friendly resources that empower young people to take action without fear. Whether you’re a teacher, social worker, parent, or young person yourself, their tools are designed to inform, support, and inspire.
Explore their brilliant resources and learn more at www.fearless.org
To access the transcript for this episode go to The P Pod (somersetsafeguardingchildren.org.uk) and click on the episode for details.
Reflective Questions for Practitioners:
1. How can we better empower young people to report concerns about crime or exploitation, especially considering the barriers such as fear of repercussions, distrust of authorities, and stigma around “snitching”?
Consider what practical steps your team can take to build trust, clarify the difference between snitching and reporting, and promote safe, anonymous reporting options like Fearless.
2. In what ways are we currently engaging with young people to ensure their voices, experiences, and feedback shape our safeguarding approaches and resources?
Reflect on whether your team is co-designing campaigns, resources, or interventions with young people, and how you might strengthen youth participation and feedback loops.
3. How can we as professionals and organisations work collaboratively—both internally and with external partners—to raise awareness of anonymous reporting services and ensure young people know where to turn if they have concerns?
Discuss strategies for embedding services like Fearless into your work, sharing resources, and leveraging trusted relationships to spread the message effectively.
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If you have any comments or questions from this podcast, or would like to be involved in a future episode please get in touch at ThePPod@somerset.gov.uk
Please note – due to the nature of this podcast, themes relating to the abuse and neglect of children are discussed with the content being designed for an adult audience for educational purposes, in order to protect children from harm.
