OVER 70 knives were surrendered in Warwickshire as part of a national campaign to get blades off the streets – and use them to create a symbolic sculpture in memory of victims.
The initiative, which ran during July and August, gave anyone with a knife the chance to anonymously drop it into collection bins at county police stations as part of the national ‘save a life, surrender your knife’ campaign to reduce knife crime.
The blades, among over 300 surrendered across the Warwickshire and West Mercia policing area, have been delivered to the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry where they will be used to create a 26 foot-high ‘guardian angel’ sculpture in memory of those who have lost their lives to knife crime.
Superintendent Daryn Elton said: “We’re pleased to see that so many people have taken the opportunity to surrender their knife and make the streets safer for everyone. Every one of the knives surrendered represents one less opportunity for another life to be lost or ruined to knife crime.
“While this particular initiative has finished we will continue to remind people of the dangers of carrying knife and take action against those who choose to do so.”
Clive Knowles, Chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, said: “West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police have been a huge support since the very beginning of our campaign.
“The latest delivery of over 300 knives gets us that bit closer to reaching 100,000 knives off the streets of the UK.”
The ‘Knife Angel’ sculpture is being constructed from over 100,000 knives by artist Alfie Bradley. It is hoped the Angel will be erected in Trafalgar Square when completed.
A spokesman said: “The Angel will be the UK’s greatest monument to anti-violence and aggression ever created. Working alongside the community and families who have tragically lost loved ones to knife crime, the Centre has been astounded by the support for the project.”
Visit www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk for more information on the project.
