THE SIGN HUNTERS

ENGLAND: Knife Angel in Haverhill

Written by Laszlo, 27 March 2025

The Knife Angel is a 27-foot-tall (approximately 8.2 m) sculpture made from over 100,000 confiscated knives, created to raise awareness about knife crime in the UK. It was designed by artist Alfie Bradley and built at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire. The knives used in the sculpture were collected from police amnesty bins across the country. Some of the blades were engraved with messages from victims' families.

The Knife Angel serves as a national monument against violence and aggression and has toured various UK cities to promote education on knife crime. It has been displayed in front of cathedrals, town centres, and other public spaces to encourage discussions on youth violence and crime prevention.

The statue visited Haverhill's Market Square from 31 August to 30 September 2024. Its presence aimed to raise awareness about the devastating effects of violent behaviour, including knife crime, domestic assault, sexual abuse, and county lines exploitation. The initiative to bring the Knife Angel to Haverhill was driven by the tragic stabbing of 16-year-old Harley Barfield in 2023. A GoFundMe campaign and various community fundraising events supported the effort, with Haverhill Town Council assisting in organising related projects and managing finances.

Several events accompanied the Knife Angel's stay in Haverhill, including a small art exhibition at St. Mary's Church, featuring works from prisoners at HMP Highpoint, offering poignant reflections on violent crime from those directly involved or affected.