The Anti-Violence Bee Monument came to Crewe in May 2024!

The Anti-Violence Bee represents the town’s continued zero tolerance towards violence and aggression of any kind and a key aim was that the presence of the monument and the accompanying programme would inspire social change, not only in Crewe, but also in surrounding areas.

The community came together during the Bee’s visit to take part in a programme of activities facilitated by the Crewe Policing Team, Safer Cheshire East Partnership and Crewe Town Council.

The presence of the Bee inspired window art, self-defence classes, boxing workshops, bee face painting and arts & crafts!

Crewe Library hosted a bee-themed toddler story time and the Funky Choir performed “Songs of Hope and Reflection” by the Bee.

Lots of local schools visited the Bee on Memorial Square and the Local Policing Unit visited several primary schools to spread the message of anti-violence and encourage participation.

Nearly 300 crocheted and knitted bees were created by members of the Wistaston Swans WI group and the Motherwell crochet group and hidden around Crewe and the surrounding areas by Crewe Police for everyone to find!

Local voluntary organisations hosted stands on the Square throughout the Bee’s visit to give advice and guidance – huge thanks to Change Grow Live, Cheshire Fire & Rescue, Motherwell, Crewe Town Council White Ribbon representatives, the Cheshire Constabulary Safer Streets bus, the Safer Cheshire East Partnership and The Royal British Legion.

Please take a moment to fill in our feedback form to let us know what you thought – your feedback helps to inform our future events!

The Anti-Violence Bee is a 6 x 2.5m monument made by British Ironworks from thousands of weapons (including knives and guns) that were collected from the streets of Manchester. All weapons were collected as part of the GMP’s ‘Forever Amnesty’ and were delivered to British Ironworks on a 7.5 tonne lorry.

In 2023 Crewe hosted the Knife Angel monument. The Knife Angel is the National Monument against violence and aggression and is made up of 100,000 seized knives and blades taken from the streets of Britain. The Knife Angel had a hugely positive impact on Crewe and its surrounding areas with 140 knives being disposed of through the knife amnesty and thousands of young people participating in engagement opportunities surrounding anti-violence and aggression messaging.

The Anti-Violence Bee is a legacy to the original Knife Angel event. The worker bee is an important symbol, signifying workers and people power. The bee inspires the idea that together, we are stronger and can achieve incredible goals as a society. The bold design of the bee, paired with the important symbolism of the bee itself, invokes education, communication, and discussion to promote the anti-violence campaign message.

Thank you to everyone involved in making the Bee visit memorable:

Crewe Police

Cheshire Constabulary

Cheshire Fire & Rescue

Cheshire East Youth Support Team

Creative Crewe

Crewe Library

Change Grow Live

Motherwell

Safer Cheshire East Partnership

Royal British Legion

Cheshire College South & West

ABC South Cheshire Boxing

The Funky Choir

Crewe Market Hall

Become a National Youth Anti-Violence Champion

An ‘Anti-Violence Champion’ is someone who completely renounces violence and aggressive behaviour as a means to solve issues, disputes and difficulties.

You can find out more by visiting:

https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk/become-a-national-youth-anti-violence-champion/

Support in Crewe for victims of violence

Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Hub: 0300 123 5101

A Cheshire-based charity supporting individuals and families affected by domestic abuse:

My CWA (formerly Cheshire Without Abuse)