Knives taken off the streets of Thanet through Kent Police’s district knife amnesty bins have been transformed into a striking Viking shield. The Jon Odell shield, crafted by Broadstairs blacksmith and sculptor Gordon Fox, repurposes seized blades into a powerful symbol of protection and service.
Inspector James Ross approached Gordon Fox of Fox Forge Art with the idea of creating something positive from the surrendered knives. Gordon embraced the challenge, explaining, “The one phrase that kept coming back to me was ‘from offensive to defensive’.” This inspired the creation of a full-sized Viking shield, symbolising law enforcement warriors.
Gordon safely blunted the knives and reshaped them onto a wooden shield inspired by the Viking ship Hugin of Pegwell Bay. The design features the ship’s dragon figurehead etched on one blade and a map of Thanet on another. Words such as “Protecting” and “Serving” are inscribed to complete the meaningful artwork.
The shield is named after PC Jon Odell, who tragically died on duty in Margate on 19 December 2000. Gordon gifted the shield to Kent Police to be presented annually to Thanet officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication. The first recipient of the Jon Odell shield is PC Lee Godden, recognised for his outstanding mentoring of new officers and an impressive arrest record.
Chief Inspector Rhiannan Pepper praised PC Godden, highlighting his efforts in stopping a suspicious woman, recovering stolen goods, and safely returning missing teenagers. She said, “The Jon Odell shield celebrates those who go above and beyond to keep people safe in Thanet. These knives have been taken off the streets and turned into a symbol of the good work carried out by our officers. PC Lee Godden’s dedication is truly inspirational.”
The Jon Odell shield will be on public display at the “Five Go Mad In Margate” art exhibition. It will be featured alongside works from four other artists at the Pie Factory Margate Gallery, Broad Street, from 17 to 23 June. This extraordinary piece tells a story of sacrifice, transformation, and the police’s commitment to keeping Thanet safe by turning knives into a shield that guards the community.
Originally published by UKNIP.
