Tens of thousands of visitors have flocked to see the striking Knife Angel in Hull’s Queens Gardens, it has been estimated.
The 27ft sculpture, made of 100,000 knives collected during a police amnesty, is visiting the city as part of the #NoMoreKnives campaign, designed to rid the region’s streets of knife crime.
Among the visitors were a group of first-time offenders from Newcastle, all aged 17, who are on an early intervention course.
View stunning pictures of the Knife Angel here.
The group were taken to see the unmistakable artwork last week as part of a rehabilitation project aimed at them keeping out of prison and changing their lives around.
They met with Kayleigh Pepper, the Hull woman whose younger brother Rich was stabbed to death following a confrontation outside his home.
The sculpture is made of 100,000 knives.
Kayleigh, alongside Humberside Police, has been working with and supporting the #NoMoreKnives campaign, which aims to educate young people on the dangers of carrying a knife.
And this week, groups from Ashwell Pupil Referral Unit will make daily visits to see the Knife Angel.
PCSO Richard Whelan form Humberside Police said: “From the engagement events we have held there and from feedback from the guards protecting the angel, I would estimate we have had around 25,000 visitors.
“We have had a lot of interest from young people and the effects the visit has had on them. The group from Newcastle want to turn their lives around so, as part of their rehabilitation project, they were brought through to Hull to see the statue and meet with Kayleigh Pepper who talked to them about a victim’s perspective.
“It is great to see how much of an impact the angel is having on young people, and everyone who sees it.”
