Teen stab victim's family welcomes statue arrival
The family of a teenager stabbed to death has welcomed the arrival of the Knife Angel in his hometown.
The 27ft (8m) statue, made from 100,000 seized blades, tours the nation to highlight the devastation of knife crime.
It has been installed in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, the hometown of Jack Woodley, who was killed in a knife attack in Houghton in 2021.
His mother Zoe McGill said it was good to have the Angel there in his memory to raise awareness among his friends, family and the wider community.
The sculpture, in situ until 28 June, coincides with a Durham Constabulary campaign to tackle knife crime, as well as a month-long knife amnesty.
Members of the public can safely surrender knives at the front counters of the Durham City, Bishop Auckland, Peterlee, and Darlington police stations.
These will then be donated back to the British Ironworks Centre, the creators of the Knife Angel.
Speaking at the installation, Ms McGill said: "When I look at the monument it's as though the Angel is saying 'why?'
"All these people who are carrying knives, I just think 'why? What does it solve?'
"Knives destroy lives not just for the victims but for their families, and the lives of perpetrators as well."
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Family 'overwhelmed' by Knife Angel response
The senseless death of a teen killed for no reason
Durham Police
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Indivior Plans to Cancel London Listing After Moving Primary to US
Indivior Plc said it plans to cancel its secondary listing in London nearly a year after the drugmaker shifted its primary trading to the US, marking the latest departure from the UK's capital markets. The opioid-addiction therapy maker moved its main listing to New York last year in search of more analyst and investor coverage, but had a rocky start amid guidance cuts. It's planning to ditch the secondary trading it had maintained on the London Stock Exchange to better reflect where its revenues come from and eliminate the cost of the secondary listing, given most of its volume and investors are now in the US, according to a statement.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
DWP news, updates, and information on claiming benefits
THE DWP is the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions. It is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy. People struggling with the cost of living can claim benefits form the DWP for support, even if they work, have savings, or own a home. Read on for all the latest DWP news, interviews and updates on all things benefits. DWP minister says £5bn disability Pip cuts 'will help fight populism' Stephen Flynn calls for fresh Commons vote on Winter Fuel Payment cut Labour's 'immoral' welfare cuts blasted by leading campaigner Use a benefits calculator or talk to an adviser to accurately understand your benefits entitlements. Some benefits are devolved to Scotland, but most remain reserved to the UK Government. Devolved benefits (handled by the Scottish Government through Social Security Scotland) include: Adult Disability Payment – replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland. Child Disability Payment – replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children. Carer Support Payment – replacing Carer's Allowance gradually. Best Start Grant – includes three payments (Pregnancy and Baby, Early Learning, and School Age). Best Start Foods – helps with the cost of healthy food during pregnancy and early childhood. Scottish Child Payment – regular payment to low-income families with children. Funeral Support Payment – contributes towards funeral costs for those on certain benefits. Reserved benefits (still managed by the DWP) include: Universal Credit State Pension Pension Credit Jobseeker's Allowance Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Housing Benefit Bereavement benefits The new Labour Government has cut several benefits since taking power in 2024. The Winter Fuel Payment, which had been universal, was first on the chopping block. Labour made it means-tested, sparking outcry from charities and campaigners who warned it would cost lives. DWP Secretary Liz Kendall later outlined sweeping cuts to disability benefits which she claimed would total £5bn. However, independent estimates said it would not save as much, leading Labour to also cut back the health element of Universal Credit. Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are paid to millions of people with disabilities to support them with extra living costs. PIP helps with daily living for people who struggle with everyday tasks and with mobility for people who have difficulty getting around. People receiving the PIP benefit will see their payments frozen next year as the government wants to make it tougher to claim PIP, which is not linked to work. This includes a freeze on payments, meaning they won't increase with inflation. Child Benefit payments will increase from April 7. Parents will receive £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week for each additional child. This equates to £1354.60 and £897 annually, respectively. Child Benefit is typically paid every four weeks and is automatically credited to a bank account. There is no limit to the number of children for which parents can claim. People with a disability or health condition that affects how much they can work are eligible to apply for an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). In March, Liz Kendall said cuts to the DWP will include changes to the ESA. The ESA and Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) could soon be merged into a new 'time-limited' unemployment insurance. This will be paid at a higher rate, without claimants having to prove they cannot work to get it, Kendall has said. All benefit queries can be checked on the official Department for Work and Pensions website.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The SNP: All news, interviews and updates
The Scottish National Party (SNP) are a centre-left and socially democratic party. The SNP have been in power since the 2007 election, after which they formed a minority government. Over the last 18 years, the country's leading party has been championing Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. Read on for all the latest SNP news, interviews and updates on the party. Hamilton by-election campaign enters final days Pro-independence party leaders urged to stand against genocide in Gaza SNP criticise Labour's plans to increase UK's defence spending First Minister John Swinney is the current leader of the SNP and the MSP for Perthshire North. The party's group leader at Westminster is Stephen Flynn, who is tipped to be a future leader of the SNP. The SNP are the biggest party in the Scottish Parliament, with 61 MSPs in Holyrood. They have nine MPs in the Westminster Parliament, a significant drop from the 2019 General Election when they returned 48. The MPs are: Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North), Dave Doogan (Angus), Stephen Flynn (Aberdeen South), Stephen Gethins (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry), Chris Law (Dundee West), Graham Leadbitter (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey), Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East), Brendan O'Hara (Argyll and Bute), Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire). The MSPs are: George Adam (Paisley), Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast), Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw), Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar), Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South), Colin Beattie (Midlothian North & Musselburgh), Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire & Dunblane), Siobhian Brown (Ayr), Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill), Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley), Angela Constance (Almond Valley), Graeme Dey (Angus South), Natalie Don (Renfrewshire North and West), Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn), James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart), Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside), Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath), Fergus Ewing (Inverness & Nairn), Jim Fairlie (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire), Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West), Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch), Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North), Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife & Glenrothes), Mairi Gougeon (Angus North and Mearns), Christine Grahame (Midlothian South Tweeddale & Lauderdale), Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts), Emma Harper (South Scotland), Clare Haughey (Rutherglen), Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth), Fiona Hyslop (Linlithgow), Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland), Richard Lochhead (Moray), Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands), Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston), Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Beardsen), Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith), Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South), Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East), Michael Matheson (Falkirk West), Mairi McAllan (Clydesdale), Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan), Paul McLennan (East Lothian), Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde), Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie), Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute), Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine), Angus Robertson (Edinburgh Central), Shona Robison (Dundee City East), Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands), Shirley-Anne Somerville (Dunfermline), Collette Stevenson (East Kilbride), Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central), Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin), Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow Southside), John Swinney (Perthshire North), Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East), Maree Todd (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross), David Torrance (Kirkcaldy), Evelyn Tweed (Stirling), Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley), Humza Yousaf (Glasgow Pollock). Earlier this year, the SNP forced a vote, supported by MPs, demanding compensation for women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age. The forced vote was presented by the SNP's group leader, Stephen Flynn, who demanded that the Labour Government compensate the Waspi women. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (Image: PA) Last March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) had recommended compensation between £1000 and £2950 per person due to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) communication failures. However, the Labour Government announced before Christmas that no compensation would be given. MPs voted by 105 votes to 0 for the UK Government to issue compensation. The Scottish Greens were kicked out of power in 2024 by Humza Yousaf, who was the first minister at the time. Yousaf sacked Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as ministers, dramatically bringing the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens to an end after they were brought into government anywhere in the UK for the first time by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 with the Bute House Agreement. Yousaf said the Green membership's upcoming vote on the Bute House Agreement threatened the stability of his government. This decision triggered a crisis in the government and directly led to his resignation as the first minister. Speaking at a press conference in Bute House on April 29, 2024, Yousaf said he "underestimated' the level of hurt he caused by ending the power-sharing deal. He said: "Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the matter I did I clearly underestimate the level of hurt and upset that caused Green colleagues. 'For a minority government to be able to govern effectively trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental.' Earlier this year, Sturgeon said his decision to end the deal was 'catastrophic'. She told the Institute for Government think tank: 'I think crashing that agreement was catastrophic and – politics aside – totally the wrong thing to do for stable government.'
