Pupils forge art from knives in anti-crime project

Students in Rugby have taken part in a project to tackle knife crime by creating a sculpture made from confiscated weapons.

Pupils at Ashlawn School worked with a professional blacksmith to learn how knives could be melted down and transformed into a depiction of a phoenix surrounded by knife handles.

As part of the school's Cut the Cycle project, the artwork was forged from blades that had been handed into amnesty bins, and was developed through Warwickshire Crimebeat's Young High Sheriff Programme after students identified knife crime as an issue they wanted to address.

"What makes this project so impressive is that it has been driven by students themselves," said Sgt Guy Mountford.

The group has also created a dedicated website, produced a short film and delivered awareness activities as part of the anti-knife crime campaign.

Mountford added: "The sculpture is a powerful reminder of the choices people make.

"By transforming knives surrendered through amnesty bins into something tangible, these students have created a lasting legacy and more importantly, a powerful way of starting conversations about knife crime.

"The students involved in this project have shown that young people can play a vital role in challenging harmful behaviours, supporting their communities and helping create a safer future too."

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