Striking Knife Angel sculpture to visit Crewe

Crewe Town Council has worked in partnership with the Safer Cheshire East Partnership and Crewe Local Policing Unit to bring the renowned Knife Angel sculpture to Crewe.

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 it. During its visit, young people will be encouraged to sign up as Anti-Violence Ambassadors.

The Knife Angel will be located in Memorial Square between Wednesday 3rd and Wednesday 31st May 2023. There will be an opening ceremony to welcome the Angel and a torchlit ceremony will be held at the end of the month to signal the closing of the event.

In summer 2022, Crewe Town Council was approached by the local Beat Sergeant for Crewe to request support to bring the Knife Angel to the town. It is hoped that the presence of the statue and accompanying programme of engagement will inspire social change not only in Crewe but also the wider area.

Funding for the project has been given by Crewe Town Council and the Safer Cheshire East Partnership supported through funding from the Police Crime Commissioner’s Office.

A supporting programme of activities is also planned for the month:

– Theatre activities, gang culture workshops and engagement in local schools

– First aid demonstrations and training (including use of defibrillators and bleed kits)

– Knife amnesty

– Safe space bus

These activities are currently in the planning stage and announcements will be made via the Crewe Town Council Knife Angel webpage: https://www.crewetowncouncil.gov. uk/whats-on-events/knife-angel/

A source at Crewe Town Council said:

“The Knife Angel has toured major cities in the UK and to bring it to Crewe is an ambitious undertaking. We are excited to see it come to our town and hope that it will draw a lot of people from the surrounding areas and that they will take the opportunity to view the sculpture during its residency here.”

More information about the Knife Angel can be found here: https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk/ the-knife-angel-official/