THE man who commissioned the Oswestry Knife Angel has rebuffed claims from the mum of a knife attack victim who called its presence in her Essex town "hideous, insulting, and retraumatising".
Ellie Ingram's second son Tom Britain, 26, was murdered at a friend’s flat in Colchester, Essex in March 2013.
She says her and her family's lives were ‘turned upside down’, and has slammed Colchester City Council's decision to bring the sculpture – made from 100,000 confiscated blades – to the city in October.
But Clive Knowles of Oswestry's British Ironwork Centre, insisted the touring Angel has had a "colossal positive impact" during 10 years of touring the UK.
Ellie, who lived in Colchester for 20 years, said: “To say it brings comfort as a national memorial is wrong.
"They need a reality check and this needs to be stopped now.
“Some people don’t understand how traumatising seeing a knife can be to someone who’s a victim of knife crime.
“I’ll do everything within my physical and mental being to stop it from being placed so close to where my son was murdered.”
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But Clive Knowles, who owns the British Ironwork Centre, where the Angel was commissioned, says it has had a ‘colossal impact’ on its national tour.
He said: “Over the last nearly 10 years since we originally started this project, there has always been negative voices but what can’t be denied is the colossal positive impact nationally.
“The Angel is and has only ever been the catalyst to drive greater efforts in launching youth anti-violence initiatives and programmes all over the UK.
“From hundreds of initiatives launched, one in particular, has enabled circa 100,000 young anti-violence champions to be deputised, these are monumental achievements.
“Knife crime and violence nationally continues to escalate, despite our efforts, there needs to be more Knife Angels, certainly never less.
“From the 44 cities and towns now having hosted and with new hosts applying continually, this continues to be the largest UK independent effort (unfunded) outside of Government and police forces.”
Ms Ingram’s son Tom, who was also known as Twister in the music world, was at a friend’s flat when two men broke in brandishing knives and a handgun.
He was assaulted and stabbed. His friends inside the flat managed to escape by locking themselves in another room with their children.
Tom’s friends called the emergency services but he died at the scene from a stab wound to the chest.
Two men were subsequently jailed for their parts in Tom’s murder.
Ellie, who now lives in Ingatestone, Essex, said: "These knives might have been used in crimes.
"I’ll be asking where the knives are that were involved in my son’s murder and if they’re in there, I want them out.”
Natalie Sommers, Colchester City Council's communities boss, has publicly defended the council's decision to bring The Knife Angel to the city.
Despite acknowledging that "nothing can ever replace a loved one lost to knife crime" she says the council believes the sculpture can be used as a "powerful tool for good".
She said: “We want to assure people that our intention is to use this iconic statue in a positive way that is respectful and sensitive to the experiences of victims and their families.”
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