Ceremony takes place to mark Knife Angel's arrival in Haverhill
The sculpture is made of over 100,000 blades to highlight the impact of knife violence
Last updated 5th Sep 2024
A ceremony's taken place to mark the arrival of the Knife Angel in Haverhill, Suffolk.
The 27-foot national monument against violence and aggression, will stand in Haverhill Market Square, with its arrival marked in a special ceremony yesterday evening.
The Knife Angel's arrival was brought on following the death of 16-year-old Harley Barfield, who was fatally stabbed in the town back in January 2023.
A 16 year old was sentenced to life in prison for his murder in December 2023.
To help bring the Knife Angel to Haverhill, Harley's father, Darryl Barfield, set up a Go Fund Me, which has raised thousands of pounds.
The project has also been supported by Haverhill Town Council, which is assisting with related projects and financial management.
Haverhill Town Mayor, David Smith previously spoke about the importance of the monument coming to Haverhill: “To have The Knife Angel come to Haverhill would be an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of knife crime, and to acknowledge the sad loss of Harley Barfield in 2023...
"Being able to host the powerful and striking sculpture in Haverhill will provoke discussions and serve as a reminder to educate people on the impact knife crime can have on a family and the wider community.”
Daryl Barfield
We spoke to Harley's father at the event. He told us Harley was his "mini-me": "A blue-eyed blonde boy. He would always be respectful to ladies, that's how I brought him up.
"He was funny, I would phone him up and he would answer the phone in a different language, he was a joker. He didn't have an ounce of violence in him."
He went on to say how he has struggled since losing his son and is only still around thanks to the support he has received: "I go to bed every night with my eyes closed, I see my son. I wake up in the morning, it's my son."
He is hoping that having the sculpture locally will save at least one life: "It's been an incredibly sad journey for me and I hope that when the Knife Angel leaves Haverhill it leaves a legacy in the name of my son."
More about the Knife Angel
The Knife Angel, created by artist Alfie Bradley and the British Ironworks Centre, is made from over 100,000 seized blades.
It was created to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour of all types, including knife crime, domestic assault, sexual abuse and county lines drug dealing.
Those behind the Angel hope it will act as both a catalyst for turning the tide on violent and aggressive behaviour, and a memorial designed to commemorate the lives lost through violent and thoughtless actions.
The installation in Haverhill will be the first time that the Knife Angel statue has appeared in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire or Norfolk.
The official event
In attendance was Haverhill Mayor David Smith, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Lady Clare Euston, and Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner.
The event saw speeches and information about the National Anti-Violence Memorial.
Reverend Max Drinkwater, who conducted Harley's funeral also attended, giving a speech detailing how the whole community was impacted by Harley's death: "When Harley died, the community came together to support and encourage each other, and the church was part of that.
"I led Harley's funeral and it was so important for us to be there for people when they needed us so that we can help people process what's going on.
"Sadly, knife crime, violent crime, it does, it affects all sorts of different people in the Community, not just the family and the immediate friends who would have been most affected by it."
Reverend Max Drinkwater explained that Harley's family have been vital in getting the Knife Angel to Haverhill.
"They were the ones who got behind this - his father in particular, Daryl has been instrumental in bringing the knife Angel to Haverhill.
"This is the smallest place that it's ever been. It was only because of Harley's story and just showing how much the community wanted to get behind making people aware of violent crime and the Community response to it, that it's coming to Haverhill at all.
"I know this will be a really important moment for his family, as well as the wider community."