The Slough community came together in a show of unity against knife and violent crime.
A candlelit vigil at the Knife Angel, a sculpture against violence and aggression, was held at Arbour Park last night (26 January).
There were speakers from Thames Valley Police, local faith leaders, a young volunteer and families of those who died as a result of knife crime.
Chief Inspector Ashley Smith, from Thames Valley Police, said: “This is just the start of what we are doing in Slough, and we cannot do it alone. Seeing how many people are here shows the commitment.
“Together with our partners, and community, we can make a difference and prevent further acts of violence on our streets. Slough stands together against all forms of violence.”
Reverend Sue Lepp, police chaplain, had a powerful message for everyone.
She said: “Angels are messengers. We need to be angels. To be messengers of warning and peace. To the young people, be angels of influence. To the adults, be angels of example. Knife crime and violence have no part in this community.”
Umar Ansari, the father of Abdul Aziz Ansari, 18, who was murdered in Langley in May 2022, spoke of the need to take a stand together.
He said: “Last year was a devastating year for us; we had three separate murders. Is this the type of identity we want for Slough? A place that is unsafe for our children and ourselves?
“We have had to go through the whole painful experience of being told he is no longer with us. The impact has not gone away. The pain and grief is now within our DNA.
“Slough is growing. We can’t allow ourselves to sleepwalk into a town that becomes less safe for our generation and the generation to follow. It is time for us to reclaim Slough. We need to be cohesive. We need to stand together. If you hear of any anti-knife crime campaigns, please support them.”
Stuart and Amanda Stephens, the parents of Olly Stephens, 13, who was murdered in Reading in January 2021, both spoke.
About three years ago Olly had known about the Knife Angel and fallen in love with the design, but sadly he never got to see it in person.
Stuart said: “Too many young lives have already been lost to the cancer of knife crime. Our children are being sold lies through their phones. It is up to our families and community to inspire change to our youths’ behaviour towards each other. We start at home by talking to our children.
“It is shameful to pick up a knife. It is just plain stupid to actually use one. Please have these conversations, no matter how awkward.”
Amanda said: “Children killed our son. Our children are our future. We need to protect them.”
She read a poem about the Knife Angel, written by Theresa Redmond.
“As I stand so strong and tall
I symbolise life, now lost, so cruel
I’m made of knives used by gangs, a structure of hate, caused by man
An Angel made, from sadness and gloom
That stands in hope of getting through
To all these gangs in senseless need
Of taking life
With needless greed
These murderous youths can’t comprehend
The misery caused with no real end
A sentence passed
A life’s long pain
Made with knives
To no ones gain.”
Dr Uthman Lateef, from Jamia Masjid & Islamic Centre, Slough, said: “You are our hope in this town. You have to be the beacons of light in every place you are living to make this a place to live in peace, comfort and harmony.”
Pastor Cecil Boyd, from Church of God of Prophecy, Britwell, said: “We stand against violence and aggression of all sorts. When we work together, we can make a change. We can stem this violence in our community. Our children are the future of this town, they need us. Let’s work together to bring this to an end.”
Naresh Saraswat, a Priest from Slough Hindu Temple, said: “Together we can do a lot of change. I wish Slough has a very nice, peaceful future. We can hope, we can wish that this is the end of knife crime in our town.”
Eisa Mohammad, a volunteer with Together as One (Aik Saath), spoke about a project the youth did to discuss what they would do if they could ‘change one thing’.
He said: “We are thinking a great deal about how we can support families. In the name of those who are fallen, we must do more to bring the youth together and remove them from harmful influences. Make them a beacon of change for future generations.”
Since the Knife Angel arrived in Slough on 10 January, more than 5,500 people have attended and liaised with officers and volunteers, there are more than 700 tags with key messages around stopping violence and by the end of March, more than 3,000 young people in Slough will have been educated about knife crime.
The Knife Angel was brought to Slough in partnership with Thames Valley Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley and Slough Borough Council.
The last full day the Knife Angel is in Slough is Monday 30 January. It will head off to the next location in Gloucester on Tuesday 31 January.