Knife angel could go to Midlands
Shropshire's Knife Angel could be on its way to the West Midlands visiting a town rocked by a stabbing death.
Teenager, Reagan Asbury, was stabbed in the neck in an incident at a Boxing match in Walsall in October when a fight broke out outside the ring.
On Tuesday a delegation from the town visited the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry to kickstart enquiries over whether it could take the sculpture to Walsall.
The Knife Angel, created by sculptor, Alfie Bradley, has become known as a national monument against violence and aggression. It won a peace award that this year's Llangollen Eisteddfod.
It is made from tens of thousands of blades from weapons confiscated by or surrendered to police as part of the Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife, campaign.
West Midlands police officers Walsall Youth Officer Simon Bradley and Sergeant Leigh Hale along with John Morris area manager for Walsall council met with Clive Knowles, the centre's chairman, to discuss the prospects of the monument visiting Walsall’s Art Gallery, located in the centre of the town.
Mr Knowles said: "The discussions were positive and the group has returned to the west midlands, to talk to the recently appointed chief executive of Walsall Council Dr Helen Paterson.
"Whilst knife crime is generally low in Walsall, the delegation believed that the monument would be the perfect vision for young people to see and for the greater national blight to be illustrated to them, through this unique piece of art."
He said a number of cities were keen to host the statue, including Coventry, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Gloucester. Recently the Welsh Assembly expressed its interest.
"Moving the monument, is so much more complicated than people realise. It requires knowledgeable engineers to assist with craning onto a articulated vehicle and of course craning off at the chosen destination.
"Walsall’s partnership delegation is now investigating suitable partners in haulage and in craning, to see if they can help."
A plea for the Knife Angel to sit on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in London has been rejected by the London Mayor who says only commissioned works are put on display.
