North Wales anti-knife campaigner's message to public

Craig Maddocks was murdered in a knife attack at the Cambrian Vaults pub, Wrexham, in June 2013. He was 34.

His brother Danny Maddocks, from Wrexham, continues to campaign against the carrying of blades.

And after the Leader obtained data from North Wales Police confirming the number of knife-related incidents across Wrexham and Flintshire, he has reiterated his plea to the public.

The Freedom of Information data reveals that from the beginning of the 2019/20 fiscal year (April 2019) up to October this year, there have been 1,570 incidents across the two counties where there has been a possession of an article with a blade or point, or a bladed implement is recorded as having been "used."

Of that total, 761 took place in Flintshire, and 809 took place in Wrexham.

Danny Maddocks, 38, said: "That number sounds high, and obviously the work I am trying to do is to bring knife crime down.

READ MORE: Wrexham family recognised as 'pivotal' to the creation of Knife Angel during ceremony

"It's never going to get to zero, but even if it's half of what it is now - it's less."

Looking at the data for Wrexham alone, he said: "That could be 800 families who have been through what I have.

"They could have lost a loved one and had to go through the court and inquests like I did.

Danny Maddocks with his mum Edna and sister Lisa at the opening ceremony of the Knife Angel in Wrexham this year (Image: Staff)

"This puts a massive strain on the family - it nearly broke ours, and I don't want anyone else going through that.

"I always say; if you're willing to carry a knife, you're willing to use one.

"If you end up in a fight and that's in your pocket, you could end up killing someone, or yourself - even if didn't intend to use it.

"It's not big and it's not hard to carry a knife. If you have an issue with someone, deal with it between yourselves.

"There's no point using a weapon because at the end of the day, one of you could end up dead and the other in a cell."

Mr Maddocks, who runs the OnTheKnifeEdge information and help Facebook page, has previously been praised for his work in Wrexham schools, where he shares his story with pupils and educates them about the dangers of knife crime.

In the near future he is aiming to expand this work into Flintshire, and hopes one day to set up a knife crime help centre in order to support those whose families have been affected as his was.

READ MORE: Parents urged to speak to their children about knife crime after teen stabbed

The Leader reported recently how more than 700 knives handed in across North Wales as part of Operation Sceptre, a national week of action against knife crime.

Coordinated by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) Operation Sceptre was a national week of action which ran from 14 – 20 November, bringing all 43 police forces and British Transport Police together for a coordinated period of intensification to tackle knife crime, a large contributor to violent crime in the UK.

Inspector Wes Williams of North Wales Police said: “North Wales Police is totally committed to reducing the threat of knife crime within our communities and reducing the number of victims of knife crime.

“We must ensure that we are doing everything we can to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is unacceptable and that no good can come from carrying one.

“Every incident involving a knife has consequences for all those involved, and so this is an issue we take extremely seriously.

“As always the public have a very important part to play in helping to keep knives off our streets. They can help us as an extra [pair] of eyes and ears in our fight against serious violence and knife crime, and by making a report to us you could help save a life.

"We will continue to highlight the dangers of carrying knives, and other weapons, and the devastating consequences this can have on people’s lives.

"If you are found illegally in possession of a knife you will be arrested, put before the court and brought to justice.”