Cambridgeshire is set to host a 27-foot-tall monument created to raise awareness of knife crime and its devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. The project will also support East Anglian Air Ambulance, and we will be holding a range of activities throughout the Knife Angel’s stay in Ely. These will include delivering CPR and defibrillator training, as well as holding collections and opportunities for the community to learn more about the charity’s lifesaving work.
The nationally recognised Knife Angel will be at Palace Green, in Ely, opposite the Ely Cathedral from 20 May to 17 June.
It will be free to attend, open seven days a week, and accessible to the public throughout its stay.
The opening ceremony on 20 May will see speakers including High Sheriff Frances Burkitt, Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston, Chief Constable Simon Megicks, Chief Fire Officer Matthew Warren, and knife crime campaigner and spoken word artist Quinton Green.
The Knife Angel was created by sculptor Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre. It has been crafted from more than 100,000 knives and blades confiscated by police forces across the UK and serves as a powerful symbol of the human cost of knife crime and violence.
This will be the sculpture’s first visit to Cambridgeshire, which will coincide with a knife amnesty, encouraging people to safely surrender weapons and helping to prevent further harm.
Throughout the Knife Angel’s stay, there will be a strong focus on education and engagement, particularly with young people. Secondary school visits are scheduled for 2, 9 and 16 June, with workshops and programmes taking place on those days to support prevention and early intervention.
The project is being delivered by Soham Town Rangers Football Club in collaboration with partners including the police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Ely Cathedral.
National Lottery funding has largely covered the costs of the Knife Angel and local businesses have also contributed, with recovery firm, Manchetts, transporting the Angel and local community group, Men’s Shed in Soham, making the picket fence which will surround it.
Soham Town Rangers FC Chairman, Jonathan James, said: “Knife Crime, particularly among young people, is a problem across all parts of the country and as football is a force for good, we are able to play our part in highlighting the danger and impact that it has on communities.
“We have partnered with the local authorities and emergency services and are pleased to be able to highlight the vital work that they all do on a daily basis.”
Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston said: “I welcome the Knife Angel to Cambridgeshire. Its message of anti-violence is clear and moving.
“Whilst we may not have the scale of knife crime that is seen in some parts of the country, sadly Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are not immune to these issues.
“Hosting the Knife Angel will illustrate to communities, in Ely and across the wider county, the devastating effect of knife crime. It’s also an opportunity to engage our communities, particularly young people, to make them more aware of the risks and consequences of knife carrying.
“I will continue to work with partners to support their efforts to prevent serious violence.”
Superintendent Paul Rogerson said: “Knife crime is thankfully low in Cambridgeshire in comparison with national levels. However, every single incident leaves lasting harm on individuals, families and communities, and the Knife Angel is a powerful reminder of the real human cost behind every blade.
“By bringing the sculpture to Cambridgeshire, alongside a knife amnesty, we want to encourage people to think twice, surrender weapons safely and have honest conversations about how we prevent violence before it happens.”
Lis Every, chair of the East Cambs Community Safety Partnership, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Knife Angel to the district.
“The Community Safety Partnership already runs a highly effective anti-knife initiative for secondary schools across East Cambridgeshire.
“This involves working with students to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and involves a mock court session at the former Ely Magistrates’ Court to examine some of the legal consequences of carrying knives.
“The presence of the Knife Angel really adds to our awareness raising strategy and I know the young people who visit will really benefit from seeing it. It is very thought provoking.”
Tammy Swiderski, Community Fundraising Lead at East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen as the benefiting charity for the Knife Angel’s visit to Ely. The installation is a powerful reminder of the impact of serious violence and the role we all play in preventing it.
“As a charity, we bring the hospital to the patient’s side in the fastest time possible for the most seriously ill and injured people in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, so this message deeply resonates with our crews. With no regular government funding, every mission is made possible by public support, and working with local partners on events like this helps raise awareness of the importance of keeping this lifesaving service flying.”
The Knife Angel’s visit aims to spark conversations, educate communities about the consequences of carrying knives, and reinforce the message that violence can be prevented through collective action.
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