During December 2022 and the beginning of January 2023, Milton Keynes hosted the National Monument against Violence and Aggression outside Stadium MK. Also known as the Knife Angel, the monument is a 27ft sculpture, made from approximately 100,000 bladed weapons collected in knife amnesty bins during police operations across the country. Created by the British Ironwork Centre, it travels to locations around the UK to educate children, young people and adults about the harmful effects that violent behaviour has on communities. It offered us an opportunity to talk about the message of peace and goodwill to all humankind as an "anti-violence" narrative.
It was organised by Loughton Baptist Church and ROC (Redeeming our Communities) and was part of a Month of Action against Violence & Aggression. The month of action was delivered in partnership by the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley, Thames Valley Police, Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes Safety Centre (Hazard Alley), MK Dons and MK Dons Sport and Education Trust (SET).
The month of action and the hosting of the Knife Angel was all about bringing the community together to make a strong and sustained difference to tackling serious violence in our city. Thames Valley Police advised that:
- More
than 25,000 conversations between members of the public and their volunteers and PCSOs took place at the Knife Angel
- Over
4,000 primary and secondary school students took part in anti-violence
education sessions
- More
than 700 hours of work was carried out by their volunteers
- 293
knives were handed in to their amnesty bins across the city
- 50
tours of Stadium MK for primary children took place as part of an educational
workshop
They will continue to work together to ensure we reduce violence and aggression in our city.