Angel made from 100,000 seized knives exhibited

A sculpture made from 100,000 knives that were confiscated by police will be installed in a city while a knife amnesty takes place.

The 27ft (8m) Knife Angel, created by sculptor Alfie Bradley, will be positioned on Palace Green in Ely, Cambridgeshire, to highlight the impact of knife crime on people's lives, the project's organisers said.

The knife amnesty period encourages individuals to relinquish any weapons to police.

Darryl Preston, the commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: "Whilst we may not have the scale of knife crime that is seen in some parts of the country, sadly Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are not immune to these issues.

"It's also an opportunity to engage our communities, particularly young people, to make them more aware of the risks and consequences of knife carrying."

The sculpture, which will be on display from 20 May to 17 June, is being delivered by Soham Town Rangers Football Club, Cambridgeshire Police, the office of the police and crime commissioner, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Ely Cathedral.

It has been largely funded by the National Lottery, but local business Manchetts has supported the project by transporting the sculpture and community group Men's Shed in Soham made the picket fence that will surround the Knife Angel.

Supt Paul Rogerson, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Knife crime is thankfully low in Cambridgeshire in comparison with national levels.

"By bringing the sculpture to Cambridgeshire, alongside a knife amnesty, we want to encourage people to think twice, surrender weapons safely and have honest conversations about how we prevent violence before it happens."

Jonathan James, the chairman of Soham Town Rangers FC, said: "Knife Crime, particularly among young people, is a problem across all parts of the country and as football is a force for good, we are able to play our part in highlighting the danger and impact that it has on communities."

Lis Every, the chair of the East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership, said the Knife Angel would be "thought provoking" for young people to visit.

Last year, Cambridgeshire Police said 98 weapons or knives were handed in during the annual amnesty week from across the county.

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