'It's become very special to me': Heartbroken mum Lisa Petrie praises legacy of Leith's Knife Angel at closing ceremony
The statue will be removed from its spot in Leith in the early hours of Monday morning
The impact and future legacy of the Knife Angel statue has been recognised during a closing ceremony for the striking sculpture.
The 27-foot tall statue, which is made from more than 100,000 knives handed in via police amnesties, has been standing at Newkirkgate in Leith since the end of August.
The installation was part of a UK-wide tour for the art piece, but has carried a certain poignancy for Edinburgh over the past month.
Among those at Friday’s closing ceremony was Lisa Petrie, the mum of John McNab, who was stabbed and killed in September 2025 a short distance away from the location of the statue on Great Junction Street.
Lisa, who has launched the ‘Not In Vain’ campaign following John’s death aged 22, said: “Standing beside the Knife Angel over the past few weeks has meant more to me than I really can put into words.
“In a strange way, being here has made me feel closer to John.
“John is never out of my thoughts, but standing here, speaking to people about him, saying his name and seeing people stop and really listen has been incredibly emotional.”
.jpeg?trim=85,0,85,0&crop=&width=640&quality=65)
The Knife Angel was created in 2018 by artist Alfie Bradley after being commissioned by the British Ironwork Centre in honour of victims of knife crime and to raise awareness of the issue.
Lisa said: “The Knife Angel has opened conversation that I don't think would have happened before it came.
“People have stopped to look at it and started talking. They have talked about knives, about young people carrying them, about the fear, about violence, but most importantly, they have also talked about the people that have been left behind.”
She added: “I'm sad to see the Knife Angel leave. It's become very special to me and I know it's a huge impact on this community.
“But I'm also incredibly proud of what has happened while it's been here. People have listened, people have talked, people have asked questions, communities have come together. And people are beginning to understand that carrying a knife doesn't just affect one person.”
Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron praised Lisa for her work in campaigning against knife crime and for her work in making bleed kits more widely available.
Cllr Cameron also reflected on the impact the “magnificent, haunting, and poignant” statue has had on the local community and on the whole of Edinburgh, saying: “I really hope that in the time that the Knife Angel has been here, people have opened up to themselves, and particularly those who believe that carrying a knife is a good thing, it's a tough thing that makes them popular or powerful. I just hope they've had a real serious word to themselves.
“The Knife Angel leaving Leith, leaving Edinburgh is not the end of Lisa's campaign.
“Not just to raise awareness of knife crime and the horrors of it, or to do what she's been doing in terms of making sure bleed kits, raising funds for bleed kits to be available so that they can be life-saving or injury-minimising in future horrific incidents.”
Chief Inspector Alison MacDonald, local area commander for the north east of Edinburgh, also thanked those who made the installation possible as well as young people who took time to engage with the themes of the sculpture.
She said: “The collaboration and collective drive has epitomised the need to tackle this issue on a multitude of levels with one clear focus to make Edinburgh safer.
“Working with such a range of partners has reinforced something I think we all recognise. There is a real appetite to create more opportunities and safe spaces to talk openly about violence, weapon carrying and importantly what we can do to prevent it.
“This work, and particularly the work of children and young people throughout the city, has been integral to helping educate and promote positive discussion on difficult topics.”
Chief Inspector MacDonald added: “The Knife Angel is impressive in size, impact and presence, and it has undoubtedly made people stop, think and engage.”