Cathedral Square: 1-31 March 2022
The Knife Angel is the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, designed to recognise the problems caused in our society by these issues, especially knife crime. The monument stands at 27ft (8.2m) tall, weighing 3.5 tons, and is made from over 100,000 seized knives and weapons collected from all 43 Police Constabularies across the UK.
The artist Alfie Bradley, of the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire, designed the Knife Angel to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and solidify our critical need for social change.
The Knife Angel is in Worcester’s Cathedral Square throughout March 2022 to act as a catalyst for turning the tide on violent and aggressive behaviour, and as a beautiful memorial for the countless lives lost to knife crime.
The Knife Angel has been on tour in towns and cities across the UK since 2018. Worcester City Council and West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion have arranged for it to be displayed in the city, and Worcester Cathedral have kindly agreed to host a month-long programme of workshops for local schools in their new Undercroft Learning Centre, aimed at giving pupils a better understanding of the Knife Angel’s message.
The Knife Angel’s presence in Worcester is also supported by Ringway and NHS CAMHS (Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services). The City Council would like to thank Cathedral Square for providing a shop unit to use as the Knife Angel HQ.
Find out more about the Knife Angel and the work of the British Ironwork Centre.
Knife Amnesty
A month-long knife and weapons amnesty will be held alongside the display of the Knife Angel in Worcester.
It will be an opportunity to get rid of knives and other weapons with no questions asked, and no fear of reprisals.
An amnesty box will be available in Cathedral Square, next to the Angel. The amnesty box will be locked and protected by 24/7 security. It will be emptied at the end of the Angel’s time in the city, and the weapons will be safely disposed of.
Events programme
A marquee next to the Knife Angel in Cathedral Square will give the chance for visitors to find out more about the work of Worcester City Council’s Community Safety and Youth Intervention Team and other community organisations.
The full schedule runs as follows.
|
Date |
Time |
Organisation |
|---|---|---|
|
Tues 1st |
- |
ANGEL ARRIVES |
|
Weds 2nd |
11am-12pm |
Official launch |
|
Thurs 3rd |
5.30pm |
Prayers during Cathedral evening service |
|
Fri 4th |
10am-5pm |
Worcester Children’s First Get Safe |
|
Sat 5th |
- |
Open Public Access |
|
Sun 6th |
- |
Open Public Access |
|
Mon 7th |
10am-1pm 10am-5pm 10am-4pm |
Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Nightstop and Mediation Service Worcester Children First - Get Safe West Mercia Police – Knife Arch |
|
Tues 8th |
10am-5pm 10am-4pm |
Platform Housing Group West Mercia Youth Justice Service |
|
Weds 9th |
10am-1pm 10am-5pm 10am-4pm |
Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Nightstop and Mediation Service Children’s Society – CLIMB Project West Mercia Police – Knife Arch |
|
Thurs 10th |
10am-5pm |
Victim Support |
|
Fri 11th |
10am-5pm In Cathedral |
Worcester Community Trust – Domestic Abuse Working Network (DAWN) NHS CAMHS education workshop (Prebooked schools only) |
|
Sat 12th |
- |
Open Public Access |
|
Sun 13th |
- |
Open Public Access |
|
Mon 14th |
10am-5pm 10am-4pm |
West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre West Mercia Police - Knife Arch |
|
Tues 15th |
10am-5pm 10am-5pm |
Children’s Society – CLIMB Project West Mercia Youth Justice Service |
|
Weds 16th |
10am-5pm 10am-4pm 12pm-4pm |
Worcestershire Children First – Get Safe West Mercia Police - Knife Arch West Mercia Police - Community Safety Van |
|
Thurs 17th |
10am-5pm 10am-4pm |
West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre West Mercia Youth Justice Service |
|
Fri 18th |
10am-5pm In Cathedral |
West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre NHS CAMHS education workshop (Prebooked schools only) |
|
Sat 19th |
12-4pm |
YOUTH DAY Various Activities Music and live performance All young people are welcome |
|
Sun 20th |
- |
Open Public Access |
|
Mon 21st |
10am-5pm 10am-4pm |
YMCA AND National Citizenship Service West Mercia Police – Knife Arch |
|
Tues 22nd |
10am-5pm |
Worcestershire Children First – Get Safe |
|
Weds 23rd |
10am-5pm |
The Children’s Society – CLIMB Project |
|
Thurs 24th |
10am-1pm 10am-4pm |
Platform Housing Group West Mercia Police - Community Safety Van |
|
Fri 25th |
10am-5pm In Cathedral |
Worcestershire Children First – Get Safe NHS CAMHS education workshop (Prebooked schools only) |
|
Sat 26th |
12pm-12.45pm |
Memorial Service at Cathedral for victims lost due to knife crime, violence, and aggression |
|
Sun 27th |
- |
Open Public Access |
|
Mon 28th |
10am-5pm |
West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre |
|
Tues 29th |
10am-5pm |
Worcestershire Children First – Get Safe |
|
Weds 30th |
6-6.15pm |
Open Public Access Farewell to the Knife Angel - a gathering to remember lives lost nationwide to knife crime |
|
Thurs 31st |
- |
Angel leaves Worcester |
Youth Day – Saturday 19 March, noon - 4pm
The Youth Day will be packed with activities to help young people, families and passers-by engage with the issues of knife crime, violence and aggression.
Take part in an interactive virtual reality experience on the theme of knife crime with The Round Midnight Virtual Reality Education Company.
Try your hand at first aid to deal with a knife injury, or drug and alcohol intoxication, with the NHS on hand to help you.
Have a go at archery and enjoy the giant Jenga with hidden questions relating to knife crime within the games.
Share a musical performance by local knife crime and mental health campaigner Kate Dowdeswell.
Enjoy urban and pop sounds with a local DJ throughout the afternoon.
Community Safety in Worcester
Worcester City Council’s Community Safety and Youth Intervention Team have helped bring the Knife Angel to Worcester. They coordinate projects to reduce crime and disorder in south Worcestershire and work with partners to respond to specific problems affecting a neighbourhood such as anti-social behaviour.
Find out more about the work of the Community Safety and Youth Intervention Team.