Shropshire Council is using sculptor Alfie Bradley’s Knife Angel, currently exhibited in The Square in Shrewsbury, to remind the county’s residents of the need to talk about knife crime.
The sculpture, which was made locally at the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry, has been brought to the county town by Shrewsbury Town Council. The striking 27ft-high winged figure, made from 100,000 seized knives and blades, was designed as a National Monument against violence and aggression and a memorial to those affected by knife crime. It has been touring the UK since December 2018 and is now in Shrewsbury until Friday 31 July.
While levels of knife crime in Shropshire are lower than nationally reported, the council considers this is due to high levels of awareness and reminds that incidents of knife crime do occur. In a recent initiative, Shropshire Council’s TREES (Together, Reducing and Ending Exploitation in Shropshire) and partners worked for three months in Sundorne and Harlescott to deliver a significant improvement in community safety, including reducing knife-related incidents. Steer Clear, a Shropshire Council partner working with under 18s in West Mercia to build safer communities and reduce serious youth violence including knife crime, worked with 30 young people from Shropshire in the 2025-2026 financial year, and have worked with a total of 91 children since January 2024.
Shropshire Council’s exploitation and education services are now encouraging schools, community groups and residents to visit the Knife Angel sculpture while it is in Shrewsbury to spark conversation and reflection among young people. Shrewsbury Town Council is also offering knife awareness sessions to all schools.
David Shaw, Director of Children’s Services at Shropshire Council, said: “Shropshire Council’s exploitation and education teams and their partners work hard to support young people who feel compelled to carry knives, often to protect themselves from adults who seek to exploit them or in fear of bullying. We are there to provide targeted help in communities that need it.”
Councillor Andy Hall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said: “By encouraging people to talk about knife crime and the risks knives present we can help keep knife crime figures in Shropshire low. We are therefore grateful to Shrewsbury Town Council for bringing the Knife Angel to Shrewsbury and helping to raise awareness among local people.”
Preventive multi-agency work as demonstrated recently by TREES is at the core of a transformation of children’s services at Shropshire Council which was approved by Cabinet on 10 June. The programme, which reflects changes to government statutory requirements affecting children’s services nationwide, will affect services for children aged 0 to 18 as well as young adults with SEND up to age 25. By making the right help available, at the right time, where it is needed, it will be possible to intervene and support families earlier, addressing problems before they escalate into crisis.
Shropshire residents who have concerns or would like to seek support regarding exploitation and knife crime can go to the TREES page on the Shropshire Council website.
