Anti-violence bee touring West Mercia

The sculpture is made entirely of knives and firearms to raise awareness against the crime.

Author: Hannah RichardsonPublished 9th Nov 2022
Last updated 9th Nov 2022

A sculpture of a bee made entirely of knives and firearms is touring West Mercia to raise awareness and educate people on the dangers of crime.

It was commissioned by Manchester Police but made in Oswestry at the British Ironwork Centre.

They also made the famous Knife Angel that toured the country.

The bee will be visiting Shropshire, Telford, Herefordshire and Worcestershire until November 20.

On its journey it will visit schools, community hubs and town centres to raise awareness around the dangers of carrying a knife or weapon.

The tour has been timed to coincide with Operation Sceptre a national week of action targeting knife crime, through education and enforcement.

Chief Inspector at West Mercia Police, Helen Kinrade, said: "We still have the same issues on different scale compared to major cities. Anti-violence and anti-knife initiatives are still a major issue here for us.

"We've seen children opening up and discussing issues that they wouldn't normally be willing to talk about. You can see the difference straight away."

Here are all the places you can see the bee:

• The Square, Shrewsbury Town Centre – Sunday 6 November, 10am-2pm

• Leominster Police Boxing Club, Unit 1 Croft Business Park, HR6 0QF – Wednesday 9 November, 2-5pm

• Hereford Cathedral – Thursday 10 November, 9-11.30am

• South Wye Boxing Club, Hinton Community Centre, HR2 7RJ – Thursday 10 November, 12-6pm

• The Hive, Worcester – Sat 12 Nov, 9.30am-12.30pm and Sun 13 Nov, 1.30-4.30pm

• Abbey Park, Pershore – Saturday 12 November, 1.30-4.30pm

• Priory Park, Malvern – Sunday 13 November, 9.30am-12.30pm

• Abbey Park, Evesham – Monday 14 November, 9.30am-12.30pm

• Victoria Square, Droitwich – Monday 14 November, 1.30-4.30pm

• Riverside Meadows, Stourport-on-Severn – Tuesday 15 November, 9-11am

• Weavers Wharf Shopping Centre, Kidderminster – Tuesday 15 November, 11.30am-1.30pm

• St Chads Park, Rubery – Tuesday 15 November, 2.30-4.30pm

• BirdBox, Bromsgrove – Wednesday 16 November, 9-11am

• Wednesday 16 November – Redditch Town Centre (11.30am-1.30pm) and Woodrow Centre, Redditch (2-4pm)

• Brookside Community Centre, Telford – Friday 18 November, 1-4pm

• Hub on the Hill, Sutton Hill, Telford – Friday 18 November, 5pm onward

• Southwater Square, Telford – Saturday 19 November, 10am-3pm