Council shortlisted for Award for Knife Angel partnership project
WHBC has been shortlisted for a Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Award for its entry ‘Bringing the Knife Angel to Welwyn Garden City’ in the Public/Private Partnership category.
The LGC Awards are among the most prestigious awards in local government, celebrating innovation, leadership, and outstanding services delivered by councils across the country. WHBC being shortlisted for this award highlights the council’s successful partnership work, particularly the strong collaboration with Hertfordshire Constabulary to tackle knife crime and deliver a project with a lasting positive impact and community legacy.
The centrepiece of the project was the Knife Angel – a 27 foot sculpture made from over 100,000 confiscated knives and recognised nationally as a symbol against violence. Its month long visit to Welwyn Garden City in October 2025 acted as a catalyst for coordinated action across agencies, raising awareness of the devastating impact of knife crime and empowering young people to make positive choices.
WHBC worked with a wide range of partners to deliver a powerful programme of education, prevention, and community engagement, including Hertfordshire Constabulary, British Ironwork Centre (creator and custodian of the sculpture), the NHS, Herts Fire and Rescue Service, British Red Cross, Crimestoppers, Lives Not Knives, Hearts for Herts, Watford Football Club, and Stevenage Football Club. New partnerships were also forged with influencers and campaigners, including Everybody Loves Music, an inclusive programme for young people aged 10 to 30, and knife crime campaigner Quinton Green.
Together, partners delivered a programme of events across Welwyn Hatfield and Hertfordshire to engage residents, educate young people about the devastating impact of knife crime, and inspire positive change.
The Knife Angel’s visit to Welwyn Garden City and partnership working led to:
• The recovery of more than 500 knives (492 knives were surrendered during the Knife Angel visit, plus 41 more during Sceptre week).
• 7,000 young people receiving a face-to-face anti-violence intervention
• 11.4% increase in footfall in October 2025 compared with October 2024 in WGC
• 31 schools participating in the programme
• The delivery of more than 180 planned community engagements
• 41 referrals during October for one-to-one intervention for young people at risk of criminal exploitation
• The delivery of 349 virtual reality sessions on knife crime and exploitation to young people
• The recruitment of 1,613 anti-violence champions
• Over 1300 people provided with lifesaving first aid training
Councillor Rose Grewal, the Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Planning, said:
“The Knife Angel project was a borough wide initiative and I am incredibly proud that, along with our partners, we have been shortlisted for an LGC Award. The Knife Angel’s visit to Welwyn Garden City, and its legacy through the Anti-Violence Champions, demonstrate what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose. I would like to thank Hertfordshire Constabulary and all of our partners for helping to make the Knife Angel project such a success.”
Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Environment, said:
“Being shortlisted for an LGC Award is a wonderful recognition of the real impact the Knife Angel project has had on our community. The project sparked important conversations and brought residents and young people together to take a stand against knife crime. Together, we’ve made a genuine difference in supporting our young people to make positive choices in their lives.”
Welwyn Hatfield Chief Inspector Pete Frost said:
“This fantastic collaboration had a huge impact on the local community. We are proud of the work we achieved with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and our other local partners, and it is great to see the project being recognised. A huge amount of hard work was invested into the Knife Angel’s visit and its legacy continues through the Anti-Violence Champions.”
The winners of the LGC Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in June.
If you or somebody you know is interested in becoming an Anti-Violence Champion, visit Hertfordshire Constabulary’s website.