A Knife Angel sculpture is to go on display in Hull throughout February.
The sculpture has been created from more than 100,000 knives collected through police force surrender campaigns across the country. The national monument against violence and aggression stands at 27ft.
To coincide with the sculpture going on display in Queens Gardens, a school programme will be rolled out as part of the #NoMoreKnives campaign to educate children about the dangers of knife crime.
The knife angel is being used to promote the #NoMoreKnives campaign.
Councillor Daren Hale, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for economic investment, regeneration, planning, land and property, said: “The #NoMoreKnives campaign is extremely important in educating our young people to the dangers of knife crime and the council is pleased to be able to support the Knife Angel sculpture to raise awareness of this important issue.”
The sculpture was made at the British Ironworks Centre in Shropshire by sculptor Alfie Bradley.
Community beat manager PC Christian Sewell, of Hull Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, has been working with Kayleigh Pepper, whose brother was killed in a knife crime in 2015 on Egton Street in Hull.
PC Sewell said, “This is a real achievement for the team and for Kayleigh who have been working hard to bring the Knife Angel to Hull. It was touch and go for a while as structural engineers had to make sure the location was right to house the huge sculpture, but we’re thrilled we will able to welcome it to our city.
“It is an extremely impressive and moving piece of art. Knife crime is very much in the public conscience and this amazing piece of art will hopefully make people think about the dangers of carrying and using knives.
“While the sculpture is in Hull, we are rolling out our school programme as part of the #NoMoreKnives campaign to educate children of the danger of knife crime. The more young people that are aware of the dangers the more we can prevent young people losing their lives in knife crime.
“We have been doing talks in Hull’s schools since September 2018 and now with £80,000 worth of funding from our Police and Crime Commissioner, we are continuing to take our talk and campaign out to all schools in the Humberside Police area.”
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