Maidstone, 30 March 2023: The towering 27 foot Knife Angel sculpture came to Maidstone last September, highlighting the scourge of knife crime that is plaguing streets up and down the country, and Maidstone is no exception.
Made from over 100,000 seized and forfeited blades, it was specifically created to spotlight the devastating effects of violent behaviour, and knife crime in particular. The business district improvement organisation One Maidstone hosted the sculpture for four weeks on its UK tour, in Brenchley Park, and it was visited by pupils from schools across Maidstone.
Many of them took part in thought provoking Knife Angel creative workshops, and also signed a ‘pledge book’ opposing violence in their town. The book was delivered to Number 10 Downing Street last week, as part of a national lobby for social change.
Helen Grant MP said, “Nigel Downes and his team at One Maidstone are passionate about creating a town centre we can all be proud of and where we can be safe in our work, shopping and leisure activities. Bringing the Knife Angel to Maidstone as part of their ongoing campaign for our County Town was a great idea. The pledges against knife crime they have gathered clearly show that this poignant and fearsome sculpture is achieving its purpose’.
