Plymouth Live: Road shut after police incident as Knife Angel arrives in the city
plymouth live: A major road in Plymouth is shut in both directions this morning after a police incident; at the same time the 27ft Knife Angel sculpture has been installed in the city centre for a month of display and events. The road closure is affecting Tavistock Road between Budshead Way and Meavy Way and bus services are diverting; the Knife Angel will remain in place throughout March with evening illumination and educational activity. Officials and family members have reacted to both the emergency disruption and the anti-knife initiative as the city adjusts to the unfolding day.
Plymouth Live immediate update on Tavistock Road
Tavistock Road is closed in both directions between Budshead Way and Meavy Way after an ongoing police incident recorded at 5: 35 a. m. ET on Wednesday, March 4. The nature of the incident is not known at this time and emergency services have been contacted for further information. Transport disruption is already in place: services 1, 1A and 14 are diverting St. Peter’s Road while Crownhill Low Level remains closed in both directions and bus operators are asking passengers to use alternative stops.
Traffic monitoring service Inrix logged the incident at 5: 35 a. m. ET on Wednesday, March 4. Road users are being advised to avoid the area while police work at the scene; live updates are expected as authorities and operators confirm when the route will reopen. For residents and commuters this morning, the sudden closure has compounded the wider public focus on city safety as the Knife Angel arrives for a month-long installation.
Knife Angel installation and community reaction
The Knife Angel sculpture, standing 27ft tall and created from more than 100, 000 seized or surrendered blades, has been installed between the Civic Centre and the Guildhall buildings and will be officially unveiled on March 3. The sculpture will be illuminated each evening and will remain in place throughout March, with educational events in schools across the city and bystander intervention training scheduled during the month. The installation was funded in part by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and a Community Safety Partnership Serious Violence Duty contribution, with partners including local community, youth and specialist services.
Family reaction has been vocal. Becky Dustan, sister of Michael Riddiough-Allen, said: “To see it in our region is incredible and the power it has to open those conversations and to have people talking about knife crime is wonderful. ” Kevin Allen, father of the victim, said he was “very unaware of knife crime” before his son was fatally stabbed. Plymouth City Council has framed the installation as prevention and education: Sally Haydon, Cabinet member for community safety at Plymouth City Council, said: “This is about educating. This is about prevention. ” Plymouth’s chief superintendent, Matt Longman of Devon & Cornwall Police, said the structure is intended to “start conversations” around the impact of knife crime.
Devon & Cornwall Police recorded 3, 007 incidents of knife-related crime in the 12 months to January 2026, a figure used to inform the installation and the month of outreach activity. Organisers say the display is not an admission of a local crisis but a means to deter knife carrying and to encourage education, surrender and community action; partners named in the project include Mike’s Trust, artist Alfie Bradley and the British Ironworks Centre, which manufactured the piece.
What happens next
Authorities will continue to update the public on the Tavistock Road closure until the scene is cleared and normal services resume; transport operators expect diversions to remain in place while the area is sealed. The Knife Angel will remain installed throughout March with daily illumination and scheduled community education and bystander training events; organisers and public safety officials say they will monitor engagement and follow up work beyond the month. For live developments on the road closure and the city’s Knife Angel programme, watch for updates from local authorities and the organisations involved as events progress, and note that plymouth live will continue to track both the incident and the community response through the day.
Closing note: plymouth live will publish further updates when emergency services and organisers provide new information on the road closure and the Knife Angel activities.
