“The Knife Angel is not about fear – but we must make sure knife crime doesn’t take hold here”
Sally Haydon, Plymouth City Council cabinet member for Community Safety
16:00, 08 Mar 2026
The famous Knife Angel is now in Plymouth(Image: Leanne Hall)
It is a real honour for our city to host such a powerful sculpture as the Knife Angel. Many of you will know that it travels around the country as a national monument against violence.
It was created from tens of thousands of knives and weapons handed in during police amnesties. Every blade represents a moment of harm, of fear, a moment where a life – or a family – was changed forever.
When you stand in front of the Knife Angel, you cannot ignore the message. It reminds us of the real impact of violence, and the pain that comes when a knife is used. It also reminds us that behind every incident there are victims, families, friends, and whole communities who feel the shockwaves.
Although the Knife Angel is a strong and emotional piece of art, it is also a message of hope. It shows that we can come together to make change. It shows that we can choose to educate, to prevent harm, and to stand as one community that says clearly: Enough. We do not want violence here.
But I want to be clear. Plymouth does not have a knife crime problem.
We are not a city where this type of violence is common. But that does not mean we should sit back and do nothing. We have a responsibility to act early, to raise awareness, and to make sure we never allow knife crime to take hold here. Hosting the Knife Angel is part of that commitment.
This project is not about fear. It is about prevention, education and about working together. Over the next month, many schools, colleges, youth groups, community organisations, charities, and families will visit the Knife Angel. We want people of all ages, backgrounds and languages to feel welcome. We want everyone to understand that violence has no place in Plymouth, and that every single person – young or old – has a part to play in keeping our city safe.
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We also want to make sure that people know how to get help if they feel unsafe, or if they see worrying behaviour in their friends or family. Sometimes the early signs are small. Sometimes young people feel pressure from others. Sometimes they simply make a bad decision because they are scared. Our job, as a whole community, is to make sure support is available long before something serious happens.
The Knife Angel also gives us a chance to highlight the amazing work that already happens across Plymouth. Our local charities, faith groups, youth workers, neighbourhood teams, schools, health services, and police officers work very hard every day to keep people safe. They give guidance, support young people, challenge harmful behaviour, and help people build positive futures.
Their work often goes unseen, but it makes a huge difference, and I want to thank them all.
Throughout the month, there will be education sessions, workshops, community activities, and events that help people think about the choices they make. These sessions will talk about the risks of carrying a knife, but also about respect, communication, conflict resolution, and looking after one another. Because preventing violence is not just about knives – it is also about building strong, caring communities where everyone feels they belong.
Another part of this project is giving people a space to reflect. Across the country, too many families have experienced the heartbreak of losing someone to knife crime. Here in Plymouth, we will have a Book of Remembrance, where people can share thoughts, feelings, and hopes for a safer future. This is a quiet space to pause, to think, and to remember why this work is so important.
I also want to say that safety is not just the job of the police or the council. Safety belongs to all of us. It is in the conversations we have with our children. It is in the support we offer when someone is struggling. It is in the courage to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. It is in the kindness we show to people who feel left out or alone.
The Knife Angel reminds us that we are stronger when we stand together. Whatever your background, your community, your faith, or your language – we all want the same thing. We want Plymouth to be a safe place to live, work, study, and visit. We want a city where people feel proud of who we are and how we look after one another.
By hosting the Knife Angel, we are saying very clearly that we want to keep Plymouth safe. We want to stay ahead of the problem. We want our young people to grow up in a city where they feel supported, valued, and hopeful. And we want ensure the damaging and mindless violence we see in other parts of the country never becomes part of life here.
I want to thank everyone who has helped bring the Knife Angel to Plymouth – from the initial idea put forward by Councillor Kevin Sproston, to our officers, partners, and a special thanks to PL1 Events, who have ensured that this amazing piece of art is lit up and safe for everyone to enjoy, to our emergency services, our charities, our schools, our volunteers, and most importantly, our communities. Your support makes all the difference.
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