Knife Angel visits during month-long amnesty

Items can be surrendered anonymously and without fear of prosecution during the amnesty, police said

A sculpture made from 100,000 knives has arrived in Welwyn Garden City to coincide with an amnesty.

The 27ft (8m) Knife Angel, which was created from blades seized by police, was designed to highlight the devastating effect of knife crime on people's lives.

It tours the country to spread the message and will stand in the city centre through October.

Hertfordshire Police said its knife amnesty during October would allow members of the public to safely surrender knives at Hatfield, Stevenage or Watford police stations, without any fear of prosecution.

Knife-related crime remains low in Hertfordshire, compared with other parts of the country.

Hertfordshire Police says the statue's visit presents a great opportunity to carry out initiatives to reduce and prevent violence across the county, not just knife crime.

Police and crime commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: "We must not be complacent as every life lost or damaged by knives is one too many."

Weapons surrendered will be destroyed after the amnesty, police said

In addition to the amnesty, the police will be conducting knife detection operations and talking to retailers to ensure knives are not sold to people under 18.

Ch Insp Pete Frost, said: "Police want to work alongside communities, partners, and charities to prevent crime and harm, catch criminals and solve crime, and protect victims and the vulnerable."