Over 50 weapons handed in during Knife Angel visit

2 hours ago

Aimee DexterCambridgeshire

News image — The weapons were handed in while the Knife Angel was in Ely

Cambridgeshire Constabulary Several knives are on a wooden table. Some of them are small pocket knives, and there are kitchen knives and a meat cleaver. — The weapons were handed in while the Knife Angel was in Ely

More than 50 weapons were handed in to police across Cambridgeshire while a sculpture made from 100,000 knives was on display.

The 27ft (8m) Knife Angel, created by sculptor Alfie Bradley, was positioned on Palace Green in Ely between 20 May and 17 June.

An amnesty encouraged people to relinquish any weapons to Cambridgeshire Police, and those handed in included nunchucks as well as knives.

Supt Paul Rogerson said: "The Knife Angel was a really effective focal point from which to begin conversations, with young people in particular, about the dangers of carrying a knife."

John Devine/BBC The Knife Angel, a sculpture made of knives with large hands to the front and giant knifed wings. — The striking sculpture – now a national monument – has been visiting towns and cities across the UK

The force said tens of thousands of people, including schoolchildren, visited the sculpture.

Meanwhile, the East Anglian Air Ambulance raised more than £6,000 at the installation and trained more than 1,200 people in CPR and defibrillator use.

"Our work doesn't stop here," said Rogerson.

"We will continue to work in partnership with other agencies to provide education to residents, to schoolchildren and at youth clubs, and responding robustly when required.

"Every life matters, every conversation counts, and together we can continue working towards a future free from knife crime and violence."

Cambridgeshire Constabulary A long knife is on a wooden table beside two nunchucks which are black and silver. — Nunchucks were among the weapons handed during the amnesty

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