Redcar is rallying together to host the Knife Angel, otherwise known as The National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, for the month of August.
Three years after the iconic monument was hosted in Middlesbrough in 2019, the Angel is returning to the area as part of the National Youth Anti-Violence Educational Programme and Tour.
Created by ourselves, the Knife Angel aims to become a catalyst for social change and community discussion.
Sculpted out of over 100,000 seized and surrendered knives collected from all 43 British Police Force Constabularies, the iconic monument will be on display in the grounds of Kirkleatham Museum until 31 August 2022.
North Yorkshire has seen knife crime rise by 80% since between 2020 and 2021, and the statistics for knife crime in Cleveland Police make them the second highest in the UK, which was all a driving factor to the county hosting the Knife Angel and increasing the community’s intolerance to violence.
After sadly losing her son Chris to a fatal stabbing in 2003, Theresa Cave, founder of The Chris Cave Foundation, now campaigns for education around the impact of knife crime. Working together with Redcar and Cleveland Council, Cleveland Police and construction firm GRAHAM, Theresa was determined for Redcar to host the Knife Angel.
With an opening ceremony held on 2nd August, town officials were seen joining the Anti-Violence Charter Pledge, and declaring themselves as a location that rejects all form of violence.
The monument will be on display until 31 August 2022. You can find more information by visiting https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk/the-knife-angel-official/
Pictured (left to right): Jacob Young, MP for Redcar, Theresa Cave, founder of The Chris Cave Foundation, Steve Turner, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, and Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre.
