Save A Life.. Surrender Your Knife

Knife crime and violence is a serious issue within our community.

The visit of the Knife Angel sculpture to Arbour Park offers the opportunity to educate and inform the community about the risks of carrying a knife and the dangers and real-life consequences.

Partners across Slough have joined forces throughout January to run education workshops, knife crime talks and public events.

At GoodGym, we volunteered for a few hours to talk to people visiting the Knife Angel, to explain the reasons behind it, answer questions and share anti-violence messages, which they can then pass onto their kids and friends.

Upton Grammar prefects from year 7 and 8 came along to see the Knife Angel and take photos and videos. They will be writing articles and doing a presentation to their assembly.

The imposing 27ft tall sculpture was made by Alfie Bradley and the British Ironwork Centre as a National Monument Against Violence and Aggression.

It has been touring the country and was brought to Slough thanks to Thames Valley Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Slough Borough Council and other partners.

The aim is to tackle violence in all its forms and to create a lasting legacy against knife crime and violent crime.

Thousands of conversations have taken place so far between members of the public, police and volunteers.

Hundreds of school children and young people have been educated on topics including knife crime, domestic abuse and bullying and more than 20 knives and weapons have been handed into police or put in the knife amnesty bin at Slough Police Station.

Families of those who have lost their lives to knife crime are among those who have visited the Knife Angel.

Today, one mother whose son was killed 20 years ago, came to visit and was visibly moved.

One parent, speaking at the opening ceremony on 10 January, said: "The social fabric of this town is very strong. We want it to be safe."

Visitors can write their message of reflection and anti-violence on a tag which will go on the fencing around the angel. Poignant messages on the tags are there to read, with the community really understanding the impact and devastation of knife crime.

It can feel like an impossible task to rid Slough of violent crime, but initiatives such as the Knife Angel really help to get the conversation started and potentially stop people from taking actions they may regret in future.

If it prevents another knife death, it can only be a good thing.

For updates on the rest of the month of action, visit www.slough.gov.uk/knifeangel

Key events coming up are a multi-faith candlelit vigil on Thursday 26 January at 7pm and a community day on Saturday 28 January.