'Here's what happened when a crime fighting bee visited our school in Bloxwich'
Students at a Black Country school were able to see up close and personal a striking monument around anti-violence.
“The bee is a nice symbol and represents that violence isn’t good” – these are the words of a primary school pupil as the iconic Manchester Anti-Violence Bee Monument visited her school.
The Manchester Bee Monument visited Busill Jones Primary School in Bloxwich on June 20, with children given the opportunity to get up close to the monument and talk about knife crime and the consequences of carrying a knife.
The symbolic monument is currently touring Walsall borough schools as part of an anti-violence campaign.
Made from thousands of weapons, including knives and guns collected from the streets of Manchester, the monument, mounted on a triple-axle trailer, was originally situated in the city but is now touring the UK to offer anti-violence education.
One pupil said: “The bee is a nice symbol and represents that violence isn’t good.”
Another pupil said: “It’s good to see it at our school. We have been talking about the bee, that it is made out of guns and knives and represents anti-violence.”
PC Ian Brotherton, Young Persons Officer, based at Walsall Partnerships, said: “It is designed to be a talking piece for people to look at and decide how they are going to have that conversation about guns and knives and anti-violence.
“Kids see the bee and they talk about the bee itself and then talk about what it is made of, why it’s here, why do we need it and what are we trying to achieve by talking about knives and guns.
"Hopefully it persuades them that violence isn’t the answer and we need to look at other ways of resolving any potential conflicts."
Headteacher Nicola Bayliss said: “We think it’s important to do this because we believe the younger we manage to target our families and children the greater impact overall. It has been really popular with our parents and has started a really good conversation about knives.”
Michelle Tolley, designated safeguarding lead at the school, said: “We are central to a number of gangs and our children are living with the experience of knife crime and violence.
"We want to open the conversation early so they aren’t afraid to have those conversations when things are worrying them and know that there is support out there for them.
"We linked up with Walsall Council to bring the monument to the town.
"Many schools across Walsall have been welcoming the Manchester Bee Monument for a day."
Reducing serious youth violence is a priority for Walsall Local Policing Area and it is hoped the Manchester Bee Monument will be used as an education talking point and a catalyst for discussion about knife crime and the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.
The Manchester Bee Monument is hoped to continue the successful legacy of the Knife Angel visit to the town back in December last year.
Last December, the 27ft stainless steel Knife Angel made from 100,000 confiscated knives was a talking point throughout its stay and there was much positivity created from its visit.
The Manchester Anti-Violence Bee Monument will be available for local schools until July 22.