Berkshire connected
News & Sports
9
KNIFE CRIME ON THE RISE IN READING By Daniel Hand
Knife crime in Reading is on the rise once again. On 31st October a man was stabbed to death on Romany Lane in Tilehurst and, just days after this fatal stabbing of Reece Heffernan, another stabbing was reported in Whitley thought not to be linked to Heffernan’s death. After a spate of stabbings earlier this year the knife crime problem in the town needs to be addressed more than ever. On Friday 12th November a community event was hosted by The MAP Partnership and ACRE held at The MAPP Centre to tackle knife crime in the Greater Reading area. The event was attended by people who have been directly affected by it and other volunteers who are working towards reducing Knife crime manace. The harrowing sculpture The Knife Angel, completed in 2018 by artist Alfie Bradley and made from 100,000 knives taken from over 200 knife banks that were provided by the British Ironworks Centre for people to anonymously hand in their weapons, is a stark reminder
that knife crime tears apart communities and families. The Knife Angel has been touring around the UK since 2018 and is certainly a powerfully imposing structure. But with knife crime still rife, it is questionable whether the sculpture is having much impact. Last year, Reading celebrated Black History Month with a wide array of events that took place all over the town. The packed programme included talks on Knife Crime, theatre productions and art and cinema. The artists Aundre Goddard and Richard Bentley recorded a sound walk through the community and history of the London Street area, where the listener is invited to take an immersive stroll around Reading whilst listening to route instructions interspersed with local people’s tales of the diverse cultural hub of Reading. All theses activities were used to increase the sensitisation and awareness of Knife Crime in Reading and beyond.
