Completed in 2018 The Knife Angel also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression has toured the country, bringing with it an awareness of the consequences caused in our society by violence and crime – especially knife crime.
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Knife Angel artist Alfie Bradley of the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, designed the touring artwork to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and to solidify critical need for social change.
The monument stands at 8.2m (27ft) tall, weighing 3.5 tons, and is made from over 100,000 seized knives and weapons collected from all 43 Police Constabularies across the UK.
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The Knife Angel will be located on Queens Square for the duration of its stay and will act as a stunning visual focus point for our work surrounding the visit that aims to address, inform and educate individuals and groups of the impact that knife crime and violence can have on communities.
The monument is expected to arrive on the 4th of October with an opening ceremony held on Friday 7th October. The Knife Angel will stay in situ for the remainder of October.
Wrexham Council, North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin have arranged for the knife angel’s Wrexham visit to coincide with a month-long awareness campaign. There are countless other important organisations involved in making sure that the visit is a success, and that we make the most of the awareness that the monument brings.
There’s a common misconception that there’s lots of knife crime in Wrexham, and this in some cases can lead to a fear of knife crime. But Wrexham County Borough has seen a marked decrease in Knife Crime incidents over the past few years, and knife crime in Wrexham remains low.
We aim to not only address the issues arising from knife crime and violence but also address any misconceptions and fears that people may have within our communities, and hopefully give them more confidence and reassurance that not only is the community of Wrexham a great place to live and work, but also a safe place.
We aim to arm the Wrexham public with information on where they can report concerns or knife crime incidents, where further information can be found and address further concerns around knife crime
Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard said: “I would like to extend my thanks to Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironworks in Oswestry for allowing us to host the impressive artwork and also thank his patience over delays in the Knife Angel arriving in Wrexham over the covid period. I would also like to thank Cllr Terry Evans who in his previous role as lead member for Economy-Economic Development and Regeneration ensured that this visit took place. Finally I would like to thank the hard work of our many officers who have been working tirelessly to ensure a successful and worthwhile visit of the Knife Angel monument to Wrexham.
Lead Member for Economy & Regeneration at Wrexham County Borough Council, Councillor Nigel Williams said: “We hope that the arrival of the visually stunning knife angel will attract people to the city centre as they look to view and no doubt photograph the monument. “Events and activities throughout the month will give our multi agency partners the chance to share information and advice on crime reduction.
Lead Member for Partnerships and Community Safety at Wrexham County Borough Council, Councillor Paul Roberts said: “During the month of October, the Knife Angel will be an impressive backdrop to the important multi agency work that we are doing behind the scenes year round to keep Wrexham safe.
Superintendent Nick Evans of North Wales Police said: “We are pleased to welcome the Knife Angel to Wrexham as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of knife crime.
“Knives are dangerous and there is no place for them on the streets of Wrexham. Carrying knives or other weapons do not keep you safe. By carrying a knife, you are putting yourself in much greater danger, and more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get injured yourself.
“By working with our partners, we will continue to educate, enforce, and act on any information given to us to bring those involved in this type of offending to justice.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin commented: “I am pleased to see The Knife Angel visit Wrexham.
“The monument is a stark and powerful reminder of the dangers and tragedies caused by knife crime.
“While offences of this kind remain thankfully low in Wrexham, it is important for us all to act to drive them down still further.
“As part of this mission, I am grateful for the outstanding support shown by North Wales Police and Wrexham County Borough in working together for an even safer city.”
Delivering safer neighbourhoods is a key priority within my Police and Crime Plan and initiatives like The Knife Angel are an example of how we can educate and share the messages that will ensure our communities remain safe and secure for all residents.
” I would encourage as many people as possible to experience The Knife Angel during its time in Wrexham.”
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