From weapons of crime to poignant angel statue

THAMES Valley Police is taking part in a national project to create a work of art which will symbolise the country’s stand against knife violence.

The Force is to join more than 30 police forces already contributing to the project by the British Ironwork Centre. Knives surrendered to police from across England and Wales are being repurposed into a magnificent piece of art, a 20 ft, knife angel sculpture, which it is hoped will be displayed on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square in London.

Knife surrender bins will be in a number of police front counter offices across the Thames Valley until Sunday, February 14, in support of London Metropolitan Police’s initiative Operation Sceptre.

A police spokesperson said: “In Thames Valley we do not experience knife crime on the levels seen in similar communities and areas elsewhere in the country. From January to December 2015, Thames Valley Police received reports of 485 crimes in which a bladed or pointed article was used compared to 496 during the same period the year before, a two per cent reduction.

“The figures refer to sexual and violent offences, including robbery, where a pointed or bladed implement is recorded as being used in the offence, and it was capable of piercing or puncturing the skin. A pointed or bladed implement could include items such as knives, pens, screwdrivers and broken bottles. The item could have been used to injure or threaten.

“It is important that we continue to ensure that people understand that carrying a knife makes an individual more likely to be a victim of knife crime themselves.”

Knife surrender bins will be in front counter offices at the following locations until Sunday (14/2): Oxford, Abingdon, Banbury, Henley, Cowley, Didcot, Witney and Bicester.

Knives should be wrapped in cardboard or something similar and secured with tape. You can read more about the Knife angel project here: LINK