Bench made of knives tribute to crime victims

It is hoped the campaign will educate people on the dangers of knives and tackle the root causes of the problem

Art students spent more than 300 hours fashioning a bench out of confiscated knives as a tribute to victims of crime.

The seat was also created by students of Northumberland Skills at the Port of Blyth from donated and blunted knives.

The bench is on display at The Pavillion in Blyth and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said she hoped it would have an impact because knives "destroy lives".

Student Nicky Boyle, 18, said the creation was "hard work" but the final result looked "phenomenal".

The bench was unveiled during Sceptre, a week of activities aimed at tackling knife crime and its root causes, through education and engagement.

The area's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) also held engagement sessions at schools and colleges.

Mr Boyle said: "It's been hard work to put the bench together, but now that it's finished it looks phenomenal.

"I've loved every second of it and I'm really proud of what we've produced."

It took the students more than 300 hours to make the bench out of blunted knives

The family of Samantha Madgin, who was fatally stabbed at age 18, in Wallsend in 2007, took part in the project.

Miss Madgin died just months after giving birth to her son.

Her mother Alison and sister Carly created Samantha's Legacy, a community interest company to raise awareness of the devastating impact of knife crime.

The bench is on display at The Pavillion in Blyth

Alison Madgin said: "I'm quite emotional now that I've seen the finished bench.

"Hopefully, it'll make people think about knife crime and lead them to have conversations with their families of the dangers of becoming involved in it."

Superintendent Scott Cowie, of Northumbria Police's dedicated prevention department, said it was "vital" that young people are "part of the solution to solving these problems", as the police know "we alone can't prevent knife crime".

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