Month-long knife amnesty coming to Hertfordshire
The Knife Angel's stay in Welwyn Garden City will help to reduce and prevent violence.
Hertfordshire Constabulary will conduct a month-long knife amnesty during October, to coincide with the visit of the Knife Angel.
Police say knife related crime remains low here, but the Knife Angel's stay in Welwyn Garden City will help to reduce and prevent violence.
People can surrender knives to Hatfield, Stevenage or Watford police stations during next month - and there will be a surrender bin at the foot of the Knife Angel and in Waltham Cross.
An opening ceremony will take place in Howardsgate on Wednesday 1 October at 5.30pm.
As part of the Knife Angel initiative, in addition to the amnesty, the constabulary will be conducting activities including knife detection operations and talking to retailers to ensure knives are not sold to those under 18 years of age.
Welwyn Hatfield Chief Inspector Pete Frost said “We are thrilled to be hosting the Knife Angel throughout all of October and we want to invite the public along to what will be a very special event.
“The ceremony will mark of an important month of increased knife crime awareness across Welwyn Hatfield and the wider county. Young people attending the ceremony will also be given the chance to sign up to become Anti-Violence Champions. This is an important part of the Knife Angel initiative as it means you will help to keep its legacy going. This is the first time Knife Angel has ever visited Hertfordshire and we hope to see a great turnout for this special event.”
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, said: “We are proud to be working alongside Hertfordshire Constabulary to bring the Knife Angel to Welwyn Hatfield for the first time, and I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen. The opening ceremony will be a powerful occasion, and we hope as many people as possible will join us in marking the start of this important month.
“Alongside the ceremony, there will be a programme of inspiring events throughout October designed to raise awareness, spark conversations and encourage positive change. Together, we can make a real difference in tackling knife crime and creating a safer future for our young people.”