Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 14 April 2023

A FAMOUS sculpture created from more than 100,000 confiscated knives is to be sited in Nuneaton town centre for the month in June.

The towering 27-foot-tall sculpture – named the ‘Knife Angel’, created by artist Alfie Bradley, has stolen the limelight wherever it has gone. And now, nearby Nuneaton will mark the latest stop on its nationwide tour.

Local councils Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council worked alongside Warwickshire Police and the Crime Commissioner Office, Warwickshire County Council in helping to bring the creation to the borough.

It specifically highlights the negative effects of violent crime, whilst also carrying its messages of anti-violence, youth reconciliation, and reducing knife crime.

Coun. Claire Golby, Chair of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Communities Partnership, made the announcement of the sculpture’s visit to councillors in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (12 April), where she stressed it is about emphasising the negative effects of violent behaviour and knife crime.

Coun. Golby said: “We are going to have a visit from this iconic sculpture as part of the national youth anti-violence campaign. It is very much about emphasising the negative effects of violent behaviour, and particularly knife crime, which is a problem across the country – and this borough is no exception, I’m afraid.

“We have been working very hard with our colleagues in the Police and the Police Commissioner’s Office, and then more recently the youth justice system and education at the county council to make this happen, and I am delighted now that it’s becoming a reality.

She concluded: “We will be running a programme not just in schools in Nuneaton and Bedworth but across the area, and more will be announced about this in the weeks to come.”

Chief Inspector Steve Davies, Northern Area Commander at Warwickshire Police, said “I am passionate about education and prevention around youth violence in our towns.

“The Knife Angel will be used across the town in the month of June to educate our young people, but this will also be a focal point to bring together different members of our communities.

“The Angel will encourage conversation around an important issue but also ensure that we take a key role in preventing knife crime across our towns.”

A borough council spokesperson said that full details about the sculpture’s visit will be confirmed nearer the time.