It is coming seven years after the first offer
The Knife Angel comes to Gloucester
A poignant sculpture of an angel made entirely out of knives handed to police – including one bearing the name of a Plymouth man stabbed in Tamerton Foliot – will finally be coming to Plymouth, seven years after it was refused.
Taking more than five years to create, the Knife Angel has been described as the National Monument against Violence and Aggression by its makers, the British Ironwork Centre.
The 27-foot-tall sculpture includes more than 100,000 blades.
One such weapon is inscribed with words thanking Derriford Hospital Surgeon Commander Anthony Lambert who operated on Jamie Healy, one of a number of young men who suffered horrific knife injuries on January 1, 2015 when Donald Pemberton and Ryan Williams attacked them in Tamerton Foliot.
During the murder trial of Pemberton – after Williams had pleaded guilty at Plymouth Crown Court – the jury heard the Royal Navy surgeon explain how a wound to Jamie Healy was so deep, he was able to reach through his stomach and touch the operating table underneath.
The 16.1cm deep wound had stripped away back muscle from his spine, damaged his pancreas and spleen and divided his left kidney.
The Knife Angel in Hull – a butcher’s cleaver “signed” by Jamie Healy who was one of a number of people stabbed at Tamerton Foliot green on New Year’s Day, 2015, including Tanis Bhandari who died at the scene. (Image: Leanne Hall)
A number of cities around the country have welcomed the sculpture, including Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Gloucester, Hull and Coventry.
While the chair of the British Ironwork Centre offered Plymouth a chance to host the sculpture in 2019, the offer was turned down by Plymouth City Council, Devon and Cornwall Police and the Devon and Cornwall Crime Commissioner.
At the time, Cllr Sally Haydon, then cabinet member for community safety, said the council was very grateful for the offer, “but our feeling is we do not need it to combat knife crime”.
She went on to tell PlymouthLive that the council had spoken with police who “stated that we don’t have a knife crime issue to the same extent that metropolitan cities and we don’t want to over-exaggerate the issue.”
She added that the council “wouldn’t want to have the taxpayer have to pay for this, especially as things are tight at the moment.”
The Knife Sculpture illuminated at night in Queens Gardens, Hull(Image: Peter Harbour)
An OPCC spokesperson told PlymouthLive in 2019 that a lot of “money and effort” was already put into prevention work and it was felt the Knife Angel “would be more impactive in communities where knife crime is a daily reality.”
At the time they added: “Our focus in Devon and Cornwall has been on prevention and we have prioritised innovative projects like the Turning Corners scheme which is aimed at diverting young people people away from crime in South Devon.”
However, in a joint statement this week it would appear a change of mind has taken place.
The visit of the Knife Angel will be funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), utilising funding from the Community Safety Partnership’s Serious Violence Duty fund.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Plymouth City Council have said they are now supporting the visit and will be working alongside a wide range of partners including schools and multi academy trusts, youth services, domestic abuse specialists, mental health and substance misuse providers, community and voluntary groups, faith organisations and Mike’s Trust.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Although knife crime in Plymouth remains relatively low compared to many parts of the UK, it causes real harm when it occurs. Police estimate that around one in 2,000 people carry a knife in Devon and Cornwall. Many knife related incidents in Plymouth are linked to wider issues such as domestic abuse, alcohol related harm, exploitation, and mental health or self-harm crises.
The Knife Angel in Somerset outside the Market House in Taunton(Image: Somerset Council)
“The Knife Angel’s visit is about turning these difficult realities into action: encouraging people not to carry knives, promoting safe surrender options and supporting a month-long programme of education and community engagement designed to prevent harm and protect lives.”
The Knife Angel will be installed outside the Civic Centre and Guildhall and illuminated each evening. It will be in situ from March 3 to March 30.
Cllr Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Plymouth City Council, has now said: “The Knife Angel is more than a sculpture, it is a moment for our city to come together. Alongside our partners, we’re supporting workshops, community talks and school sessions that will help turn awareness into real change.
“Plymouth does not face a knife‑crime crisis, and overall incidents here remain comparatively low, but even one incident is one too many and its impact can be lifelong. This programme isn’t about suggesting there is a problem; it’s about keeping it that way.
The Knife Angel is made up of over 100,000 knives seized by 43 police forces across the UK.(Image: Paul Rogers / Gloucestershire Live)
“By bringing the Knife Angel to Plymouth, we are sending a clear message of prevention, education and early intervention. It acts as a powerful deterrent, a reminder of the consequences of violence, and a chance to engage people of all ages before harm occurs. This is fundamentally about compassion, community responsibility and standing alongside those who have been affected – while working proactively to protect others in the future.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez added: “We thankfully don’t have the scale of knife problems as seen in other areas of the country, but it is still there and we can’t ignore it.
“My office’s recent survey of young people and adults identified they worried about people carrying weapons on our streets.
“The more we can do to deter people from carrying a knife and show that we act to prevent their concerns the better, which is why when I heard about successful engagements with people when the Knife Angel has visited other areas such as Kent and Gloucestershire, I wanted to deliver the opportunity in our area.”
The Knife Angel in Coventry, outside Coventry Cathedral(Image: Getty Images)
Plymouth Commander, Devon and Cornwall Police, Matt Longman, added: “The knife angel is a visually striking and thought-provoking structure. It is hoped that it will create conversations and raise awareness around knife safety among our communities across all age groups.
“Devon and Cornwall Police is pleased to be supporting this campaign, in particular by facilitating the education packages which are being offered to schools and colleges across the region. It’s important that people understand that carrying a knife doesn’t make them safer; in fact it can put a person in more danger of knife harm.
“We have permanent knife surrender bins at police stations across the area and encourage people to use them. I urge anyone who has concerns about knife crime or knife carrying to contact police or anonymously through CrimeStoppers.”
More information about the visit
Safe surrender information
As part of the visit, the council is reminding people that there are safe surrender points permanently located at police stations across the region where people can anonymously surrender knives.
Community activities
If any local group or organisation would like to hold their own activities, quiet reflection, workshops, or coordinated sessions regarding the Knife Angel or Knife Crime in Plymouth, email [email protected]
The Council has reserved rooms in the Council House for community-led activity.
Attend bystander training
Learn how to effectively intervene in situations where someone is being harassed or discriminated against. This in-person event will equip you with the skills and confidence to speak up and make a difference in your community. Don’t miss this opportunity to become a proactive bystander and create a safer environment for everyone!
You will learn:
to identify forms of violence against women and girls in different contextsthe importance and impact of bystander intervention in preventing VAWGhow to develop strategies for intervening safely without escalating the riskhow to challenge and change harmful gender stereotypes and social norms that perpetuate violencehow to foster community-wide responsibility for preventing and addressing VAWG
Bystander training dates
Friday 6 March: 2pm to 3.30pmPlymouth Council House
Register for 6 March Bystander training
Tuesday 17 March: 11am to 12.30pmPlymouth Council House
Register for 17 March Bystander training
Support for people impacted
The Knife Angel can bring up strong emotions, particularly for those who have experienced violence or loss. If you are affected, support is available.
If you feel overwhelmed, distressed, or worried about your safety, there are free services you can contact at any time:
If you or someone else is in immediate danger
Call 999 – emergency servicesCall 111 – ask for the mental health option for urgent support in Plymouth and Devon
24/7 listening support
Samaritans – 116 123Shout Crisis Text Line – text SHOUT to 85258Papyrus HOPELINE247 – 0800 068 4141 (under 35s), text 07860 039 967Young Minds Crisis Messenger – text YM to 85258
Mental health support in Plymouth – Includes tailored support for young people, men and boys, suicide prevention, and crisis pathways
Plymouth Support Offer – family, wellbeing, cost of living and community help
Support for children and young people
Childline – 0800 1111The Mix – 0808 808 4994Kooth – (free, anonymous online mental health support)Head Space Plymouth – 07890 257 614 (local out of hours peer support, 6pm to midnight)
Victims of knife crime
Criminal justice and you – Victim Care Devon & Cornwall
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