Counting down to Knife Angel’s arrival

Exactly one month today, an imposing 27 foot tall sculpture will be unveiled in Blackburn as a Lancashire-wide knife crime education campaign begins.

Preparations for the Knife Angel’s visit to Lancashire are now in full swing with a host of organisations working on events, educational materials and opportunities for Lancashire residents to get involved.

The Knife Angel is a huge artwork created by British Ironworks from 100,000 knives seized by Police or recovered through knife amnesties. It will be on display at Cathedral Square, outside Blackburn Cathedral, from 4 to 29 November 2021, as part of its UK tour.

This giant 27 feet tall sculpture was built to inspire change. Acting as a catalyst for dialogue, education and reflection, the Knife Angel highlights the impact this type of violent crime can have on individuals, families and communities and the need for society to change.

With the arrival of the statue now just a month away, Lancashire residents, community groups, schools and other organisations have the opportunity to plan their visit to see the artwork during November.

There will be a range of options to view the Knife Angel – from informal and self-guided visits, to guided tours and conferences. Visit www.knifeangellancashire.co.uk to see the full range of activities available.

Det Ch Supt Sue Clarke, Head of the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, said:

It’s exciting to see everyone coming together to ensure that we make the most of the opportunity of having the Knife Angel here in Lancashire.

We are determined to make the most of this opportunity to engage in discussions about the impact of knife and violent crime, reflect on the past and look ahead to how we can enable bright futures for young people and wider communities across the county.

The Knife Angel is for everyone, and anyone is welcome to come and see it during its month-long stay. We hope this will be an opportunity to engage with communities about how we can prevent knife crime in Lancashire.

The Revd Canon Dr Rowena Pailing, Vice Dean & Canon Missioner at Blackburn Cathedral, added:

Having the Knife Angel in Lancashire is a fantastic opportunity to engage with all our communities and we are really looking forward to welcoming people of all faiths and none at our beautiful cathedral.

While the statue will be located in Blackburn, we really want it to benefit the whole of Lancashire and I would like to encourage people from far and wide to come and see it in person.

Coun Mohammed Khan CBE, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, commented:

The Knife Angel is a fantastic tool for engaging our local communities and having some meaningful discussions about combatting violent crime, and I am proud that Blackburn with Darwen is hosting the sculpture.

I know that residents and community groups across Lancashire will make the most of the opportunity to stand together in solidarity against knife crimes.

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden added:

Knife crime doesn’t just affect individuals, it affects families, friends and entire communities. Anything we can do to combat this is a step in the right direction.

I am happy to see the involvement of so many partners to take action and start conversations around violent crime and how to combat it.

I remain fully committed to working closely with the Constabulary to tackle violent crime here in Lancashire and to bring offenders to justice.

During November anyone has the opportunity to visit the Knife Angel at a time to suit them. Further information about the Knife Angel Lancashire programme and the different opportunities to get involved is now available at www.knifeangellancashire.co.uk.

People can also get the latest news on the Knife Angel Lancashire programme on a dedicated Facebook page.