Knife Angel is set to land in city
Plans have been put forward to bring the iconic Knife Angel sculpture to Wolverhampton later this year.
Bosses at the British Ironwork Centre want the 27ft high sculpture – which is made of 10,000 blades collected as part of weapons amnesties – to go on display in the city centre in April, with Queen Square being touted as a possible site.
The city council is set to hold a meeting later this month to consider the plans.
It is understood that issues including funding and safety concerns over the location of the sculpture need to be ironed out before any deal is agreed.
The striking piece, which was designed and built by artist Alfie Bradley, is being showcased in towns and cities around the country to highlight the dangers of knife crime. It is currently on display in Newtown, and is expected to travel to Gateshead, Telford and Leicester in the coming months.
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden said he would welcome the sculpture to the city.
“I saw the sculpture last year outside Coventry Cathedral and it is a striking symbol,” he said.
“I would welcome it being located in Wolverhampton – providing we can find the right place to put it.
“The key thing in combatting knife crime is to properly resource the police, and to put the right preventative work in place to try and stop young people from going down the wrong path.”
Councillor Claire Darke, Mayor of Wolverhampton, is hopeful an agreement can be reached for the city to host the sculpture.
She said: “Knife crime is a problem nationally and it is good to have a sculpture such as this to put it on the agenda.”
Mr Bradley said he created the sculpture to raise awareness of knife crime in the UK.
In the West Midlands, knife crime has more than doubled in the last eight years.
It hit a record high last year, with police recording 3,428 offences involving knives or sharp instruments in the 12 months to March.
