Knife Angel departs Edinburgh after month-long knife-crime awareness programme

School programmes

During September, 500 pupils attended the fringe production "Code", a gritty performance that used rap, parkour and BMX stunts to explore county-lines gangs and the consequences of violence. The show sparked conversations among students, teachers and peers about the realities of knife-related offences. At the same time, pupils from 13 high schools saw the play "Balisong", produced by Strange Town with backing from Forth Ports, which toured schools and reached thousands of young people across the city. Police Scotland’s school engagement officers worked alongside teachers, delivering inputs on the dangers of weapon carrying and encouraging early-intervention dialogue.

Community art and police work

A creative project saw 92 pieces of student artwork selected for a mosaic installed on a Lothian bus, broadcasting messages of safety and kindness throughout Edinburgh’s streets. The Local Policing crime-prevention team joined community workshops and provided local retailers with guidance on the responsible sale of knives. Throughout the month, police patrols focused on transport networks and enforcement actions targeting perpetrators, while also listening to the experiences of children and young people affected by violence.

The council’s closing ceremony on Friday brought together schools, community groups, police and partners to reflect on the month’s activities and to consider how the momentum can be sustained. Council Leader Jane Meagher praised the collaboration, noting that the sculpture had created a powerful platform for discussion and that the partnerships forged would continue to drive violence-prevention work.

Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal highlighted the joint effort of Edinburgh Division, Places For People, the council and over 100 partners, emphasizing that the residency had helped keep people safe through patrols, retailer advice, school engagement and enforcement. He reminded residents that anonymous reporting remains available: young people can use the Fearless service at fearless.org, while adults can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or call Police Scotland on 101 (999 for emergencies). The council affirmed that it will keep building on the lessons learned, with further information and a Book of Remembrance hosted on its website.