Iconic Knife Angel comes to Hanley
The 27-foot figure is made over over 100-thousand seized blades
Last updated 5th Apr 2022
The Knife Angel– the national monument against all forms of violence, has arrived in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre at the Smithfield site.
The Knife Angel is made up of 100,000 knives and blades that have been confiscated by police forces up and down the country, with 1800 specifically from Stoke-on-Trent and Stafforrdshire.
The sculpture comes to the city as part of a national tour, alongside a month of education and awareness activities on knife crime, and a knife amnesty.
Detective Chief Superintendent, Colin Mattinson told Greatest Hits Radio News: "A priority for all our officers and staff in Staffordshire is to protect people from harm and reduce the instances of knife-related crime. Hosting the Knife Angel in Stoke-on-Trent will help highlight the issue and the continuing work with our partners and communities to prevent knife crime and to keep people safe.
"In an effort to deter young people from becoming involved in a knife culture, Staffordshire Police are regularly engaged with young people in schools and colleges through the multi-agency Ditch the Blade campaign. We are also encouraging the safe surrender of knives. These can be handed in at surrender bins at Hanley Fire and Police Station and Longton Police Station. “
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: ‘Having the Knife Angel in Stoke-on-Trent provides us with an opportunity to engage in discussions about the impact knife crime has on communities.
‘Preventing and reducing violence is a priority in my recently launched police and crime plan and feeds into the work of the multi-agency Violence Reduction Alliance.
‘Wherever the Knife Angel visits, it starts conversations and brings people together to help secure a better future for young people and the communities they live in.
DCS Colin Mattinson added: “I hope that people from all across the region will come and visit this striking sculpture, and that by having it here, that it can support work to make our streets safer."
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