Knife Angel to come to Wolverhampton on April 1

The Knife Angel will visit Wolverhampton for a month from April 1.

The sculpture will be located in a prominent city centre location, which has yet to be identified, for 28 days as part of a nationwide anti-violence tour.

It aims to highlight the negative effects of violent and aggressive behaviour and to help bring about social change.

The 20ft tall sculpture, which is created from more than 100,000 confiscated and surrendered blades by the team at Oswestry's British Ironwork Centre, will also visit Telford in March and is currently on display in Gateshead. Also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, the Knife Angel weighs around 4.5 tonnes.

During the Knife Angel's visit to Wolverhampton, a knife amnesty will also be taking place – where all knives surrendered during the month will be used to create a new sculpture for Wolverhampton, through the joint efforts of partners in Wolverhampton and the British Ironwork Centre.

A number of locations are being looked at by the council, but a spokesman for the authority confirmed the Knife Angel will be located in a prominent city location which will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Wolverhampton Council leader Ian Brookfield said: "We are delighted to be working with our partners to bring the Knife Angel to our city.

"There’s no denying that Wolverhampton, like any other city in the country, has its share of knife crime. The good news is that fewer young people in Wolverhampton were a victim of knife crime in the last six months of 2019 – and we want to ensure that downward trend continues.

"It's important that we get the message across that violence needs to stop and we hope that displaying the Knife Angel in our city will not only help continue to turn the tide against knife crime and all other forms of violent behaviour, but also enable us to remember those whose lives have been lost or irrevocably changed as a result of violent and thoughtless actions."

Chief Superintendent Andy Beard, Wolverhampton Neighbourhood Policing Unit Commander, said: "The carrying and use of knives is a serious matter which won't be tolerated by the communities of Wolverhampton.

"There have been far too many incidents across the Midlands and nationally involving knives which also have a tremendous impact on the wider family and friends of those victims, and West Midlands Police will take positive action against those found in possession of knives.

"Bringing the Knife Angel to Wolverhampton will be a symbol of the impact such weapons can have and should remind everyone to think twice before carrying knives."

Buesiness, organisations, schools and community groups will be encouraged to hold events and activities to mark the visit to Wolverhampton. Residents will also be invited to take part in a national photography competition to capture images of the Knife Angel during its time in the city.

Anyone interested in holding events, or for more information, email knifeangel@wolverhampton.gov.uk.