IN just over a week, the iconic Knife Angel statue will be arriving in Weston.

Designed by Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre (BIC), Knife Angel, a 27-foot-tall statue, has been created from blades confiscated by the UK's 43 police forces. 

Its arrival to the Italian Gardens in May 2024 is the result of a successful bid by the North Somerset Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). It is hoped that this will help highlight the issue of violent crime.

Members of the public are invited to an opening ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, which starts at 4pm.

Speaking at the event will include Emma Webber, the mother of 19-year-old Barnaby from Taunton who was fatally stabbed in Nottingham, as well as the High Sheriff of Somerset and the British Ironwork Centre Chairman.

Speaking when Knife Angel was unveiled in Taunton, Mrs Webber said: “Barnaby Philip John Webber was a Taunton boy.

"Despite being born in the Mary Stanley unit in Bridgwater – a fact he hated – he spent all of his life at our home on the outskirts of this town.

“He went to nursery here, he went to school here, he learned to drive here, he played cricket here, he had his first job here and even his first serious girlfriend.

“We were so proud of him and so delighted that he’d found a university course he enjoyed in a new city he loved and the chance to make loads of new friends.

“His life was lost, his future was stolen and, alongside that, our hearts and souls as a family were broken by a senseless, cruel, premeditated knife attack at 4.04am on Tuesday, June 12, 2023 – why?”

Ryan Abrahams, a local student who designed the Knife Angel North Somerset logo, and the winners of the 'Consequences' photography competition are also invited to the ceremony.

Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Council’s executive member for safety in the community, said: “Knife crime is a serious and growing problem, and one that’s being highlighted through the Knife Angel’s national tour against violent crime.

“As well as coming to the see the statue itself, I’d encourage everybody to engage with the wider programme of events that we’ve planned for May. These activities are designed to help spread awareness about knife crime, and the roles we can all play to keep ourselves and our community safe.”