Knife Angel arrives in Southend
The 27-foot sculpture was unveiled this morning
The Knife Angel has arrived in Southend-on-Sea.
The 27-foot national monument against violence and aggression was unveiled in a special ceremony this morning at Victoria Circus.
Safety partners from across the county joined together for the ceremony, highlighting unity against violent crime, in support for those who lost their lives.
The High Sheriff for Essex, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Essex Police, and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, together with ambulance service and NHS colleagues were among those who attended, as well as members of the public.
The Knife Angel stands tall at 27 feet, weighing 3.5 tonnes, and was installed yesterday ready for its unveiling this morning.
Alan Richards, executive director for environment and place, says: “As The Knife Angel arrives in our city, I am sure it will serve as a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to work together to combat violence.
“As a city we are very proud to host this amazing monument and I hope it allows people to come together, reflect, and work towards a safer community."
Jo Collins, Chief Inspector and District Commander for Southend, says: “The Knife Angel is a poignant and striking reminder of the devastation caused by knife crime, across individual families and across our wider communities.
“We're working hard to make Southend a safe place for the people who live and work here, and for those who visit.
“It's really important we continue to maintain a highly visible presence.
“We're in the places where we're needed most, we're helping people who are vulnerable, and we're building relationships with the people and our partners who are best placed to tackle the root causes behind knife crime.
“Our day-to-day work to tackle knife crime includes targeted patrols across hotspot areas, the use of knife arches, intelligence and proactive policing to identify people who are carrying them.”