Gwent says goodbye to the Knife Angel

The Knife Angel will officially leave Gwent on Thursday 1 December after spending a month at the Friars Walk Shopping Centre in Newport.

Thousands of people have paid a visit to the 27ft sculpture, which is made from more than 100,000 knives, during November.
 
Commissioned by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, and created by artist Alfie Bradley, the iconic sculpture will now move on to Milton Keynes as part of its national tour.  

Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “We have been honoured to host the Knife Angel here Gwent this November. The reaction from the public has been overwhelmingly positive and it has been a real talking point right across the region.

“Our partners at the charity Fearless have delivered workshops to thousands of secondary school children across Gwent about the dangers of violence and aggression, and we have also been working with primary schools and youth groups to discuss these important issues. This work will continue long after the Knife Angel has departed.

“Bringing the Knife Angel to Gwent has been a real partnership affair and I must thank everybody that has worked so hard to make its visit a success.”

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Williams said: “Hosting the Knife Angel has been an honour and a privilege.

“Knife crime can have devastating consequences and while thankfully it remains rare in Gwent, we understand the fear that this crime can have on our communities.

“It’s important that we all have these conversations, and the Knife Angel has been a great opportunity to engage, particularly with children and young people, about the consequences and dangers of carrying a knife.”