Lancashire Police have reported the removal of between 1,000 and 2,000 weapons, including numerous knives, from the streets of Preston and surrounding areas. Byron was pictured with just a handful of the hundreds of weapons which have been handed in.
The weapons that were once a symbol of violence are now being collected and are being transformed into a powerful metal artwork memorial.
Lancashire Police spoke to Blog Preston about the artwork that is being created from these weapons.
They said: “We are currently in the process of working with a firm in Blackburn to create a memorial bench that’ll be placed outside Blackburn Cathedral which will be made out of surrendered weapons.”
Byron has been running The JJeffect for almost seven years.
Byron said: “I got the opportunity to speak to young people and I remember the police pulled me to one side at an event and they said that I should do this as a full-time job.
“Every single day we change lives but it’s not easy we do still have schools that say ‘it’s too brutal’
“This morning, we had a teacher say that in her whole entire career it’s the best presentation she’s ever seen.”
For more information on The JJ Effect visit their website.
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