Steel Warriors are fighting knife crime and aiding fitness
There were more than 15,000 knife crime offences in London during the 12 months to the end of June this year, and while the number of fatal stabbings fell, the number of offences remains among the highest this decade.
While police are doing all they can to reduce the amount of knife-related crimes committed in the capital, regular citizens are also taking it upon themselves to ensure they’re helping out as well.
One such group is Steel Warriors, whose founders Ben Wintour and Pia Fontes wanted to create something which would help alleviate the city’s struggles with knife crime.
They came up with Steel Warriors, which takes some of the one tonne of knives confiscated by the Metropolitan Police every month and melts them down.
Their first gym in Langdon Park, Tower Hamlets, was built in 2017 and they later opened another at Ruskin Park.
Earlier this month they opened a new location in north London, and we sent Health and Fitness editor Alex Roberts along to find out about the work they’re doing, and see how good a workout you can get at an outdoor gym.
"It's a way of letting frustration out without putting danger onto anybody else."
This gym in North London is made from melted down knives confiscated by the police. At a time of rising gang violence, the gym's owners hope it can keep people off the streets. pic.twitter.com/ScNe2jGnaC
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) November 20, 2019
