After nearly five years of committed craftsmanship, the Knife Dragon sculpture now stands complete outside Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham.
A Striking Local Landmark
The hand-built metal dragon, shown shielding a small child, has already become a striking local landmark. It combines artistic skill with a message about community responsibility and the consequences of weapons crime. The unveiling of the second and final phase took place during Operation Sceptre. This is for national knife-crime awareness week and the team introduced a raised Welsh stone plinth designed to resemble a castle base.
This plinth includes a “river of knives” flowing around the structure, finished with a nameplate, stone, and chain piers. When lit after dark in red, white, and green, the colours of Wales, the installation becomes a vivid reminder of how knife crime affects individuals, families, and neighbourhoods.
“JohnFree”
The statue has been affectionately named “JohnFree” by staff and students in honour of lecturer John Freeman. He is the designer and lead, who devoted countless hours outside his teaching commitments to shaping confiscated weapons into art. Kitchen knives, samurai swords, knuckle dusters, and bayonets, which North Wales Police had safely decommissioned and collected, were welded to steel frames to form the head and body of the dragon.
The project was delivered in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council and North Wales Police. It now stands as a testament to how education, creativity, and collaboration can constructively highlight social issues.
“Quite Staggering”
Karl Jackson is the Assistant Principal for the Institute of Technology and Site Lead at Bersham Road. He said, “The finished article is quite breathtaking. It will be a beacon not only for knife awareness but also for the talent and skill of the students. They have played their part in its construction, which all took place with health and safety the number one priority.”
He added that the sculpture is entirely from weapons the team have collected through police amnesty or confiscation. He said, “we have used several thousand for the Knife Dragon. It is quite staggering when you reflect on that, but what a powerful message this now sends out.”
Operation Sceptre
Community Safety Sergeant Claire Parry reinforced the point: “Every knife taken off the streets makes our communities safer. Carrying a knife doesn’t protect you. It puts you at greater risk of harm.”
Wrexham’s Lead Member for Partnership and Community Safety, Cllr Paul Roberts, noted that knife-crime incidents remain relatively low locally. At the same time, Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin welcomed the sculpture for helping focus attention during Operation Sceptre.
Ultimately, the Knife Dragon stands not only as an artistic achievement but also as a beacon of hope–turning fear into awareness, and discarded weapons into a symbol of unity and Welsh pride.
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