WE DID IT
South Yorkshire Police formally supports our campaign.
Bringing the Knife Angel to Sheffield has been added to the police and council meeting agenda, which decided to start unprecedented community consultation between the Violent Crime Reduction Unit and community members.
Families of knife crime victims say their voices have finally been heard and Sheff Line has achieved its aims.
OUR CAMPAIGN, to bring the national anti-knife crime sculpture to Sheffield, has finally got the back from South Yorkshire Police, and led to a breakthrough conversation with local authorities.
Knife Angel, which is a memorial statue built of around 100, 000 blades seized by police
forces nationwide, has been touring the country, but hasn’t yet come to Sheffield.
Sheff Line have been campaigning to bring the Knife Angel to Sheffield as a result
of the increase in violent crime and to support the countless voices of knife crime victims in Sheffield.
The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, said: ''Tackling knife crime and building safer communities is one of my priorities as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
''I support bringing the knife angel to Sheffield, and I know that this view is shared by South Yorkshire Police.
''We believe that this will have the greatest effect if it takes place alongside other activities which draw attention to the dangers of carrying knives.''
Community Safety Councillor, Alison Teals, included bringing the Knife Angel on
the Agenda of the Community Safety Partnership meeting on 30 November, which finally decided that the officer for the Violence Reduction Unit would set up detailed consultations with the local community regarding the knife angel project.
The Council agreed to bring the statue to Sheffield if the consultation is supportive, which is a monumental achievement for the Sheffield Knife Angel campaign.
Councillor Teal said: “Generally I’m leaning towards thinking that I can see the positives more than the negatives. I want to help you bring the Knife Angel to Sheffield.
“While there was more support than not in the meeting it was agreed that the officer who does research for the Violence Reduction Unit would be best placed to meet with community members who want to do this and those who do not.
“The officer is also going to speak with Chesterfield council about their experience, whether or not they thought it had been well received by the public, and they will speak to Sheffield University who have apparently also expressed some interest.”
She added: “You may feel concerned that this is a delaying tactic but to my knowledge
there was no community consultation before.
“I very much admire their persistence and clearly it is really important. I hope that we
can reach a resolution as soon as possible.”
Sheffield had the most knife crime cases in 2019 and 2020 among South Yorkshire, according to the statistics released by South Yorkshire Police, which also stated there were 13 stabbings reported so far this year.
The sculpture is a fantastic way to raise awareness for knife crime in every city it visits as it is accompanied by a 30 day educational programme.
Clive Knowles, lead of the Knife Angel national tour, said: “There is absolute factual evidence proving that the city having the angel had a much greater volume of weapons
surrendered.
‘‘Everytime we’re contacted by a victim’s family living in Sheffield, we feel incredibly sad for them because they are suffering and lacking help.
‘‘I’m delighted and impressed you’ve made such a monumental difference. Very indebted to you all - for such a courageous effort!”
Mr Knowles and victims’ families alleged that in previous years they kept on getting doors shut in their faces by the council, and were refused by South Yorkshire Police for help.
As a result of Sheff Line’s Knife Angel campaign, the campaigners all have reported a notable difference in their fight to host the sculpture.
Victoria Walker, 35, has been a huge supporter of our campaign. Her friend Mohamed
Issa Koroma was stabbed to death on Sheffield High Street in September.
She said: “Knife crime has greatly impacted many families in Sheffield, and I personally don’t think people understand the severity and truma it has left on the families of the victims.
‘‘Absolutely, your campaign has helped further over the Knife Angel project because
you’ve brought more people to the table and started a conversation. If it wasn’t for your
campaign this would not have gotten to this stage.”
Anne Gray, 78, has her grandson Jamie Stuart killed on his way home in 2011. She said: “We have Jamie’s name engraved on the knife, so it means a lot to us for the Knife Angel to be here to educate people. I think everything I have read from the campaign looks very promising for a good result. Having the police involved is the key and I'm glad they seem to be more committed than before.”
Also in support of our campaign is Hayley Lowe, 27, whose cousin Mylee Billingham died
after being stabbed by her own father. Ms Lowe said: “I started this journey over 3 years ago. It has brought a lot of smiles but also a lot of tears and knock backs. But through it I have stuck to it alone. Now we have this group and it has lessened the load.”
The Knife Angel Sculpture
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