Southend-on-Sea is gearing up for the arrival of The Knife Angel, a powerful touring national monument against violence and aggression
This remarkable 27-foot, 3.5-tonne sculpture will arrive and be installed on Sunday, ready to stand tall at Victoria Circus from Monday 1st July, captivating passersby with its sheer size, scale, and distinctive materials.
The city will officially welcome the statue with a public opening ceremony on Monday 1st July at 10am led by the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea. The event will bring together key community safety partners such as the High Sheriff for Essex, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Essex Police, and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, together with ambulance service and NHS colleagues and British Ironworks Centre Chairman, Clive Knowles, as well as young people and members of the public.
Several important speeches, musical performances and other creative pieces will be performed. At the end of the ceremony, attendees will have an opportunity to tie a white ribbon to the fencing around The Knife Angel in unity and hope, and to remember those lost to violent crime.
Alan Richards, executive director for environment and place, says: “As The Knife Angel arrives in our city, I am sure it will serve as a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to work together to combat violence.
“As a city we are very proud to host this amazing monument and I hope it allows people to come together, reflect, and work towards a safer community."
Jo Collins, Chief Inspector and District Commander for Southend, says: “The Knife Angel is a poignant and striking reminder of the devastation caused by knife crime, across individual families and across our wider communities.
“We're working hard to make Southend a safe place for the people who live and work here, and for those who visit.
“It's really important we continue to maintain a highly visible presence.
“We're in the places where we're needed most, we're helping people who are vulnerable, and we're building relationships with the people and our partners who are best placed to tackle the root causes behind knife crime.
“Our day-to-day work to tackle knife crime includes targeted patrols across hotspot areas, the use of knife arches, intelligence and proactive policing to identify people who are carrying them.”
Get involved: Knife Angel photo competition
Calling all photographers! Whether you're a seasoned professional or an amateur snapper, this is your chance to showcase your creative skills. Capture stunning images of The Knife Angel during its stay in Southend-on-Sea from July 1st to 28th. Share your photos by tagging Southend-on-Sea City Council on Instagram (@southendcityc) or Facebook (@SouthendCCOfficial) using the hashtag #KnifeAngelSouthend. Selected entries will feature in a prominent local exhibition, and prizes await the top three submissions.
Volunteers as Angels
The community safety partnership is still looking for volunteers who will form an information hub based at the statue, welcoming visitors and providing insights about The Knife Angel. Read more on our website and to express an interest in being part of the 'Angels' volunteers, please email KnifeAngelSouthend@southend.gov.uk.