Reading to get knife sculpture to remember victims of crime

The town has seen a number of tragic cases in recent years where people have fallen victim to devastating knifecrime in the area.

Victims David Allen, Raheem Hanif,  Yannick Cupido and Olly Stephens were all killed in stabbing attacks.

And Reading terror attack victims James Furlong, David Wails and Joe Ritchie-Bennett were all murdered at the hands of a knifeman.

To honour and remember those victims, and others who have survived attacks 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.

News about the sculpture was revealed at a full meeting of the council.

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.

The Oracle shopping centre in Reading. Credit: Reading Borough Council

“Whilst 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.”

In further comments to the Local Democracy Reporting Service cllr Rowland explained that 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 regulary but the numbers of knives are ‘somewhat low’ – but there also no plans to get rid of the bins either.