National World

Silent Crime

2024

In September 2024, National World launched its campaign Silent Crime to give victims a voice – and to demand that those in power listen. Across every newsroom, National World pledged to tell the stories of those who felt let down, or excluded, from justice, those who were told that there were no witnesses, no evidence to pursue or simply not enough resources to seek justice.

The teams plan to compile a dossier of people’s experiences, as well as collect statistics, to present to Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street. National World’s Group Publisher Martin Wright said: “Our reporters speak to the victims of crime every day, and many of those on the receiving end can feel desperate about the situation.

“This vital campaign will draw together testimonies across the country and will give a voice to those who feel as if we are seeing an epidemic of crime, both major and minor, which has a pronounced impact on their quality of life. We need the powers-that-be to listen and, crucially, to take meaningful action.”

National World reported that only one in 10 reported crimes in 2023 saw an offender brought to justice – and that only covers the crimes that were reported.

A trigger for the campaign was NationalWorld.com Editor-In-Chief Nancy Fielder’s elderly mother being mugged in a park at knifepoint during the day. She was unharmed but understandably extremely shaken up.

Nancy said: “When I tell people what happened to my family, the first reaction is always horror and the second is to tell me their own story. I now know that almost everyone has a horrific tale of crime to tell.”