A knife sculpture will be created in Reading in memory of those who have lost their lives due to the horrors of knife crime.
It will remember a number of people who have died following knife-related attacks, including David Allen, Raheem Hanif, Yannick Cupido and Olly Stephens as well as the three men murdered in Forbury Gardens, James Furlong, David Wails and Joe Ritchie-Bennett.
Thames Valley Police, community groups and Reading Borough Council have come together to create a sculpture that is set to be installed in the town centre.
Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey), lead councillor for community safety said: “Officers from the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit, Reading Borough Council and Thames Valley Police have been working with local community groups to look at ways to remember those who have lost their lives or been injured as a result of knife crime, as well as inform the public and offer pathways to support.
“This has resulted in these organisations exploring opportunities to actually use the knives that have been collected from knife amnesty bins to create an art installation with the plans to install that sculpture this Spring at The Oracle.
“While I can divulge no more, I have to say, the designs that I have seen, created by an artist who has worked extensively in Reading and has lived experience of knife crime, I feel are truly evocative and will cause each of us to pause and reflect on the devastating impact of knife crime within our communities.”
After the meeting, Cllr Rowland said the sculpture has been co-designed by artist Stuart Melrose.
Cllr Rowland added: “The project aims to support the community in feeling proud of Reading and empowered to change the narrative around knife carrying in Reading by repurposing the weapons and knives recovered from community knife bins and police seizures into a symbol of peace and positivity though creative arts.”
Cllr Rowland divulged the information about the sculpture following a question about the success of knife amnesty bins that were established in the town by the police in 2021.
The question was asked by Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) at the full council meeting on Tuesday, January 31.
In her answer, Cllr Rowland said that the numbers of knives deposited in the six bins could not be disclosed due to the way they are collected.
She added that the bins are collected regularly but the numbers of knives are ‘somewhat low’ – but there also no plans to get rid of the bins either.
Last month, Slough hosted the Knife Angel, a national monument against violence and aggression.
