Knife Angel sculpture coming to Colchester

The Knife Angel, the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, is coming to Colchester.

The iconic sculpture, created to raise awareness of the issue of knife crime and its impact on society, serves as a memorial to victims who have lost their lives to knife violence.

It arrives in Colchester in October and will be on display at the landmark Jumbo Water Tower in the city centre from 1 to 31 October.

A packed programme of activities, events, and awareness-raising campaigns is planned by Colchester City Council and its partners, aimed at raising awareness about knife crime and its impact on local communities.

Councillor Natalie Sommers, Portfolio Holder for Communities at Colchester City Council, said: “We are bringing this iconic sculpture to our city with the intention of provoking a meaningful conversation about the devastating consequences of knife crime and the need for community-wide efforts to address this issue.

“Over the years, Colchester has experienced its own tragedies with lives being lost to knife crime, and this visit serves as a poignant tribute to those lost lives and the importance of working together to prevent further tragedy.”

Statistics from Essex Police show that knife crime is decreasing across the county. In the 12 months to March 2020, there were 1,881 knife crime offences; in the 12 months to March 2022, there were 1,634 offences; and in the 12 months to March this year, 1,622 offences.

Chief Inspector Colin Cox, Colchester District Commander, said: “Knife crime destroys lives, and one family losing a loved one to knife crime is clearly one too many.

“We put significant effort into tackling knife crime in Colchester, including ‘hotspot’ policing, intelligence gathering, and deploying knife arches. The number of people carrying weapons is small, and our proactive approach means we are finding them and dealing with them, resulting in the reduction in knife crime across the county.”

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership said: “Essex is a safe county, but one knife crime is one too many.

“The Knife Angel is a great conversation starter. It powerfully reminds us of the tragedies and heartbreak caused by knife crime, but also gives us a reason to talk about the dangers possession of a knife brings, allowing us to educate our young people and communities in order to keep Colchester safe.”

Designed by artist Alfie Bradley and built out of more than 100,000 confiscated blades, it is owned by the British Ironwork Centre, a charitable organization based in Shropshire. It is a symbol of unity, remembrance, and a call to action against knife-related violence.

Find out more at: www.colchester.gov.uk/knife-angel/