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Knife Angel visit organised by dad of murdered teen

Luke Deal/BBC The Knife Angel statue rises into the sky. It is composed of thousands of knives. In the background are trees and a row of shops. Luke Deal/BBC
The Knife Angel statue is in Suffolk for the first time after a campaign by the father of teenager Harley Barfield

A sculpture built from 100,000 seized blades is on display in Suffolk for the first time after a young murder victim's family campaigned for a visit.

Harley Barfield, 16, died after being stabbed in Haverhill, Suffolk, in January 2023.

His father, Darryl Barfield, campaigned to have the Knife Angel, which acts as a memorial to young knife crime victims, visit the town.

Sara Marsh, from the town council, said the community had been "rocked to the core" by the teenager's death and the Knife Angel visit was an opportunity to "look to the future".

Suffolk Constabulary Harley Barfield sitting against a wall. He has short brown hair and is wearing a school uniform, including a blue jumper, with a black pack back still on his back. Suffolk Constabulary
Harley Barfield died in January 2023 after he was stabbed in Haverhill

A 17-year-old boy was sentenced to life, with a minimum of 17 years, in December for the boy's murder.

Mr Barfield previously told the BBC he had made it his mission to dissuade young people from carrying knives.

Ms Marsh, from the town council and Arts Centre, said the 27ft (8.2 metres) tall sculpture "came here primarily because of the efforts of Harley's father Darryl".

"Haverhill is a very community focused town and the community acted and reacted in exactly the way I would have expected them to, with a massive outpouring of grief to begin with - and now support," she said.

"Support for the Barfield family and a resolve that we never want this to happen in Haverhill again."

She added: "The Knife Angel is not just about Harley's death, it's also about looking to the future and seeing something good can come out of something absolutely horrific, so it's a legacy piece really".

PA Media Close up detail of the hands of the Knife Angel sculpture, showing the knives used to create it. The Knife Angel is made up of 100,000 knifes, collected by 41 police forces across the country through amnesties and confiscationsPA Media
The Knife Angel is made up of 100,000 knifes, collected by 41 police forces across the country through amnesties and confiscations

'Compassion'

The statue travelled from Luton on Saturday, with an official ceremony marking the month-long visit taking place on Wednesday.

It is in place outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Haverhill.

The Rev Max Drinkwater said he hoped the statue would reflect "the compassion the community has for each other, particularly when the worst happens".

He said: "It is an opportunity to think carefully about our relationships, how we deal with each other and particularly why some people resort to carrying and using knives to solve their arguments.

"Haverhill as a community wants to do better, to think better and we can encourage each other to do that."

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