The Knife Angel sculpture, the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, will leave Crewe at the end of the month. Crewe has been the 35th venue to host the sculpture in the last five years and it has been residing on Memorial Square in the town since its arrival at the start of May.
The Knife Angel was brought to Crewe as part of a partnership project led by Crewe Town Council with the Safer Cheshire East Partnership and Crewe Local Policing Unit. Support was also given by the Police Crime Commissioner’s Office.
Created by sculptor Alfie Bradley in conjunction with the British Ironwork Centre, the Knife Angel has been created from 100,000 seized blades collected by 43 police constabularies. The sculpture is multi-purpose, helping to educate communities about the negative impacts of knife crime whilst also acting as a poignant memorial to those who have lost their lives to knife crime.
A programme of activities was created to further the Knife Angel anti-violence initiative including:
- Theatre performances
- Youth Art Showcases
- Local schools engagement
- First aid demonstrations and training (including the use of bleed kits)
- Collaborative community art projects and installations
- An all ages poetry competition
- Safer spaces bus
- Knife amnesty
- An Anti-Violence Ambassador scheme for young people
The Closing Ceremony will be held on Tuesday 30th May at Memorial Square in Crewe at 6.30pm, preceded by a display from Dope Male Performance Company. All are welcome to attend. Amongst the attendees will be Dr Dennis Dunn (the High Sheriff of Cheshire), Clive Knowles (Director of the British Ironworks), Alfie Bradley (the sculptor who created the Knife Angel), Dr Kieran Mullan (MP for Crewe and Nantwich), John Dwyer (Police and Crime Commissioner), Dr Lorraine O’Donnell (Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council), and Cllr Dennis Straine-Francis (the Mayor of Crewe).
As part of the ceremony, a symbolic torchlit procession will take place around the surrounding streets with attendees invited to create banners and bring mementoes.
Details and images of the Knife Angel visit to Crewe can be found here:
https://www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk/whats-on-events/knife-angel/
Cllr Dennis Straine-Francis, the Mayor of Crewe Town Council commented:
“We have had a fantastic month hosting the Knife Angel and welcoming so many people in to Crewe. It has provided an incredible, thought-provoking image to inspire our anti-violence campaign, and provided a wonderful opportunity to work with our partners as well as gaining new, valuable connections within our community and support organisations. Every life potentially saved is worth the resources put into this project and we are looking forward to continuing with this work in the coming months and years.”
Superintendent Andy Blizard, Force Knife Crime Lead at Cheshire Constabulary, stated:
“The return of Knife Angel to Cheshire has provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the great work that our officers, and partner organisations from across region, have put in to keeping our streets safe.
We are extremely proud that across our wider Cheshire community knife crime remains low and this is testament to initiatives such as the Knife Angel that bring the entire community together in tackling an issue that effects everyone.”
Cllr Mick Warren, Chair of Cheshire East Council’s Environment and Communities Committee commented:
“The Knife Angel project has been a huge success and an example of how raising awareness around such an emotive topic can bring communities together.”
John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said:
“It’s been great to see so many people engaging with the Knife Angel and the activities that have taken place over the last month. Every knife taken off our streets represents a willingness for people to change their attitudes towards carrying them and a life potentially saved. I look forward to the closing ceremony where we can reflect on the impact of the Knife Angel in Crewe and how we can all work together to make Cheshire even safer.”
More information about the Knife Angel sculpture can be found here:
https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk/the-knife-angel-official/
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