Knife Angel to be displayed in Welwyn Garden City in October
A national monument made from more than 100,000 confiscated knives will be used to launch a month of anti-violence events in Hertfordshire
A 27-foot sculpture built from more than 100,000 confiscated blades will be on display in Welwyn Garden City this October as part of a county-wide campaign against knife crime.
The Knife Angel will arrive in the town centre on 1 October, where it will be the focus of a month-long programme of events and initiatives led by Hertfordshire Constabulary and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.
Created by Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre, the monument is intended to raise awareness of the impact of knife crime and promote peace. During October, schools, youth groups, and local communities will be involved in workshops, competitions and education campaigns across Hertfordshire. A knife amnesty will also be held to encourage people to dispose of weapons safely.
Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: “Securing the Knife Angel for Hertfordshire is a real achievement and a massive opportunity to raise the profile of all the great work that is already going on in the county, as well as putting this issue at the forefront of people’s minds.
“We already have a relatively low level of knife crime, compared to other parts of the country, but it is a growing problem across the UK. Therefore, it’s vital that we take this opportunity to reach out to young people, those in danger of being drawn into violent crime and professionals who are able to intervene and prevent people becoming knife crime statistics.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “Knife crime is lower in Hertfordshire than many other parts of the country but we must not be complacent as every life lost or damaged by knives is one too many.
“The arrival of the Knife Angel in Hertfordshire is a powerful symbol of our shared commitments to prevent and reduce violence as well as educating young people.”
Chief Inspector for Welwyn Hatfield Pete Frost said: “Whilst the Knife Angel is being hosted in Welwyn Hatfield, we are keen to take this opportunity to get the whole county to focus on knife crime and work with our local partners to get the message across, especially to young people, that violence and knife carrying isn’t the answer to their problems.”
The month of action will conclude with a closing ceremony on 30 October, again in Welwyn Garden City town centre.
Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, Executive Member for Environment at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said: “The Knife Angel is a powerful memorial to all those who have lost their lives to knife crime and a reminder of the devastating impact it has on individuals, families and communities. We are proud to support this project and determined to create a lasting legacy that encourages people to choose lives, not knives.”