Calls for tougher knife carrying rules, as 'Knife Angel' turns heads in Somerset
There's calls for more laws to stop people carrying knives as a giant sculpture made of blades goes on display in Somerset
Last updated 4th Apr 2024
The mother of Taunton teenager Barnaby Webber who was fatally stabbed made an impassioned plea over knife crime as the remarkable Knife Angel sculpture arrived in the town centre.
Barnaby Webber was just 19 years old when he was killed in Nottingham in the early hours of June 13, 2023 as he walked home with his friend Grace O’Malley-Kumar.
School caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was also killed in the attacks by Valdo Calocane, who admitted manslaughter and was sentenced to an indefinite period in a psychiatric hospital in January.
Barnaby’s mother, Emma Webber, addressed a crowd of more than 100 people outside the Market House in Taunton on Wednesday afternoon (April 3) to mark the arrival of the touring Knife Angel sculpture, which will remain on show until April 30.
The statue, which aims to raise awareness of the negative effects of violence and aggression, stands at 27 ft tall, weighs 3.5 tonnes and is made out of 100,000 knives and blades retrieved from amnesty bins from across all 43 UK police forces.
Mrs Webber used her address to pay tribute to her late son, stating: “In some cultures, it’s said the spirits of those who’ve passed come on the wind, and in true fashion it’s blowing a proper hoolie today – thank you Barney.
“Barnaby Philip John Webber was a Taunton boy. Despite being born in the Mary Stanley unit in Bridgwater – a fact he hated – he spent all of his life at our home on the outskirts of this town.
“He went to nursery here, he went to school here, he learned to drive here, he played cricket here, he had his first job here and even his first serious girlfriend.
“His life was lost, his future was stolen and alongside that our hearts were broken by a senseless, cruel, pre-meditated knife attack at 4:40am on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
“Why? I’m sure that’s a question asked by the very many people who are struggling and suffering, just as we are, as victims of knife crime.
“Why him? He wasn’t dealing drugs, he wasn’t involved in gangs or in any form of altercation.
“He and his beautiful friend Grace were just walking home from a fun night out, celebrating the very last week of their first year of study.
“They were just walking home – in fact they were less than three minutes away from the safety of Barney’s student accommodation when they were attacked.”
Mrs Webber – who co-founded the Barnaby Webber Foundation in her son’s memory – described her son’s killer as “a monster” and urged the government to get tougher on knife crime.
She said: “Why is the epidemic of knife crime in this country not being properly addressed?
“If you carry a knife in England and Wales, and you happen to be caught with it, it is very unlikely you will receive anything more than a stern warning and hopefully your weapon may be confiscated.
“If you’re caught with an unlicensed gun, however, you’re more than likely to be arrested and charged for carrying a lethal weapon.
“Gun crime equates to 4.9 per cent of homicides in England and Wales, and knife crime equates to 41 per cent.
“I’m not a mathematician, a policeman, a legal expert or a politician – I’m just a grieving mum. But it’s crystal clear to me that this very, very serious problem, that’s not going to go away, is only going to get worse.
“Knives, when carried and used inappropriately, must be classed as a lethal weapon. There must be stronger and more stringent rules and laws introduced, including a widening of stop and search powers.
“We must find a way to de-normalise the carrying of them. We must find a clear deterrent.
“244 people died in England and Wales last year from knife crime. If we could deter just ten per cent of these, then 24 people would still be with us today – and three of those may even be Barnaby, Grace and Ian. It truly breaks my heart.”
The opening ceremony of the Knife Angel statue featured speeches from numerous other local figures, including Taunton Town Council leader Tom Deakin, Somerset Council’s culture portfolio holder Federica Smith-Roberts and Stand Against Violence founder Adam Fouracre.
Ms Smith-Roberts said: “We are proud to host the Knife Angel for the month of April as part of our commitment to making Somerset a healthy and caring place for everyone.
“The Knife Angel is not only a stunning piece of art, but also a powerful symbol of hope and healing.
“We hope that the 30-day campaign will raise awareness about anti-conflict with schools, community groups and local businesses.
“The sculpture reminds us that violence is not inevitable, and that we can all play a role in preventing it and supporting its victims.”
Mr Deakin added: “We are proud to support the bringing of the Knife Angel to the town centre.
“Our hope is that its presence in such a prominent location will start conversations across our community raising awareness of the impact of aggression and violent crime.”
In addition to the statue being in Taunton town centre, the town council and Somerset Council are providing funding for workshops and events in schools, community groups and businesses to raise awareness of knife crime and prevent further tragedies.
The sculpture will move to Weston-super-Mare on 30 April, to be hosted by neighbouring North Somerset Council throughout May.
For more information, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/knifeangel