Seized Knives Transformed Into Park Gym Equipment – North London, 2026

Key Points

• Knives seized by the Metropolitan Police have been melted down and transformed into gym equipment for a new outdoor facility at Pymmes Park in Upper Edmonton, Enfield
• The free public outdoor gym opened in May 2026 and is the fifth Steel Warriors site in London
• Steel Warriors charity was founded in 2017 by Ben Wintour and Pia Fontes with a mission to “rethink how we tackle knife crime”
• The charity’s vision is to create “a nation where young lives are built on steel, not destroyed by it”
• Sport Relief funded the new gym with support from their new fundraising campaign featuring Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott
• The Metropolitan Police typically seizes or recovered around one tonne of knives and bladed weapons from London streets each month
• Each Steel Warriors gym requires two tonnes of steel or approximately 8,000 knives
• While gyms are open to everyone, Steel Warriors focuses on youth intervention programmes and supporting vulnerable young people
• Steel Warriors coach Simone told BBC London about seeing young people change their lives at the gyms
• Existing Steel Warriors sites include Ruskin Park (Lambeth), Finsbury Park (Haringey), Langdon Park (Tower Hamlets), and the Carpenters Estate (Newham)

Edmonton (North London News) June 8, 2026 – Knives confiscated by the Metropolitan Police have been melted down and converted into fitness equipment for a new outdoor gym facility in north London, made possible with the assistance of Sport Relief, as reported by the BBC on June 8, 2026. The complimentary public outdoor gym located at Pymmes Park in Upper Edmonton, Enfield, was inaugurated in May 2026 and marks the fifth location in the city operated by Steel Warriors.

How Does Steel Warriors Transform Weapons Into Spaces For Fitness Across London?

The charity, founded in 2017 by co-founders Ben Wintour and Pia Fontes, has a mission to “rethink how we tackle knife crime” and create “a nation where young lives are built on steel, not destroyed by it,” according to the charity’s official website. As reported by The London Standard in December 2019, Wintour and Fontes have taken two tonnes of seized and surrendered knives from the Metropolitan Police, melted them down, and built outdoor gyms.

“We found two of the key reasons why young people carry knives are protection – because people not feeling safe – and bravado, or muscle flexing,” Mr Wintour told The Standard.

“If we took all of this negative steel, melted it down and recycled it into an outdoor gym we could provide a space where young people could develop more physical confidence to walk the streets unarmed: a healthy way of flexing muscles”.

Why Does The Metropolitan Police Seize Approximately One Tonne Of Knives Monthly In London?

Over the past decade, the Metropolitan Police has typically seized or recovered around a tonne of knives and other bladed weapons from London’s streets each month, as reported by BBC London. Speaking to Claira Hermet on What The Health?!, Ben Wintour stated:

“It’s a ton a month that comes in from the Met Police. So London’s police alone. And I mean, at this point, we’ve actually had to ask the police to stop giving us knives simply because we can’t afford to store so many of them. We’re currently sitting on around 10 tons of knives, and we have a whole bunch of gyms that are prefabricated”.

For each of their gyms, Steel Warriors requires two tonnes of steel or 8,000 knives, according to Southwark News. After receiving the knives from the police, the charity, which is the first of its kind in the UK, shreds and melts the steel into form.

How Does Sport Relief Support Steel Warriors’ Funding And Jill Scott’s 388-Mile Challenge?

The charity receives direct financial support from Sport Relief, which recently launched its new fundraising campaign featuring Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott commencing a 388-mile (624km) cycling journey from Wembley Stadium to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, as reported by BBC. Jill Scott, a former Lioness who won 161 caps for England and won the 2022 Euros, has said she is “honoured” to take part in the five-day cycle and marathon challenge for Sport Relief.

The challenge, which commenced on Monday June 8, 2026, will see Scott journey up North, stopping at football stadiums and community hubs that have been part of Scott’s life and career.

At least half of the funds raised from Jill’s challenge will support Sport for Change initiatives within local communities, including football, boxing, cycling, and more.

What Impact Has Coach Simone Seen On Young People At Steel Warriors Gyms?

Steel Warriors coach Simone told BBC London:

“I’ve seen so many young people come and tell me their stories of what they were doing beforehand and where they are now, and how they have changed their lives. Being a part of that story has been amazing and I can’t wait to change more lives at the new gym”.

While the gyms are open to everyone, the charity focuses on youth intervention programmes and supporting vulnerable young people, according to BBC London.

Through regular youth intervention programmes and open community sessions, Steel Warriors continues to build stronger, safer communities, one rep at a time, as stated on their Matchroom Sport Charitable Foundation page.

Where Are The Existing Steel Warriors Sites Located Across London?

The Pymmes Park gym joins existing Steel Warriors sites in Ruskin Park (Lambeth), Finsbury Park (Haringey), Langdon Park (Tower Hamlets), and the Carpenters Estate (Newham), as reported by BBC.

Starting with a single gym in Tower Hamlets in 2018, Steel Warriors has grown into a movement, now running six gyms and proving that lives can be built on steel, not destroyed by it.

In 2018, Steel Warriors launched their first gym in Langdon Park, Tower Hamlets, a space chosen because it was said to be in a “gang-neutral” zone and next to a youth centre, according to The London Standard.

After its success, they partnered with Co-op to build a further 20 gyms around the UK, with two already built – one in Ruskin Park, Lambeth and the other in Finsbury Park – and a third one in the works.

How Did Ben Wintour And Pia Fontes Develop The Idea For Steel Warriors?

Mr Wintour and Ms Fontes came up with the idea when they heard how many knives were taken off the streets in London and how they could develop a campaign that approached the issue differently, as reported by The London Standard.

“We didn’t want to be another finger-wagging organisation,”

Mr Wintour said.

“How can we actually do something to prevent against the key motives for carrying knives rather than just telling them that they’re going to get hurt or put in jail or killed. We wanted to counteract against the motives”.

As they scale, Mr Wintour said they want to start including mentoring and training that would help young people gain their certificate in personal training, or being enrolled in a paid apprenticeship scheme. To do this, trainers at the gym offer free sessions and classes three times a week to help get young people involved and using the gyms.

“One of the big reasons young people turn to crime is because there’s not really an alternate way of them making money,”

Mr Wintour said. Co-op Chief Membership Officer, Matt Atkinson, said the project tied in well with the company’s decision to pull knives from their shelves in response to the rising rate of stabbings across the country.

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Background: The Development Of Steel Warriors And Knife Crime Transformation Initiative

Steel Warriors was founded in 2017 by Ben Wintour and Pia Fontes with a bold mission to rethink how we tackle knife crime in the UK. Inspired by the staggering amount of knife steel collected by the police each month, they envisioned turning a symbol of violence into one of strength and resilience.

Their goal was to empower young people with the confidence to walk the streets unarmed, promote physical and mental wellbeing through accessible fitness, and create pathways for personal growth and success.

The charity is an anti-knife crime organisation that melts down knives taken off the streets and recycles the steel into outdoor street gyms using street workout to transform the lives of young people affected by crime, violence, and social exclusion.

Their vision is to build a UK-wide network of gyms, a street workout movement, that not only empowers young people to realise their passions and pursue their goals but also fosters stronger, closer, and better-connected communities.

Knife crime in London has increased significantly in recent years, reaching a peak in 2019/20 with 15,928 offences, and remaining at high levels since then.

The number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 15,016 in 2023/24, compared with 12,786 in the previous year. However, there were 97 homicides in London in 2025, down 11% from 109 in 2024, and the lowest number recorded since 95 homicides 11 years ago in 2014.

Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Young People And Communities In North London?

This development can affect young people and communities in North London by providing accessible, free fitness spaces that build physical confidence and reduce the motives for carrying knives. As Ben Wintour explained, young people carry knives primarily for protection and bravado, and outdoor gyms offer

“a healthy way of flexing muscles”

while developing confidence to walk streets unarmed.

The Pymmes Park gym specifically will serve Upper Edmonton and Enfield communities, adding to the network of five Steel Warriors sites across London.

For vulnerable young people in North London, the gym offers youth intervention programmes, free sessions and classes three times weekly, and potential pathways to personal training certificates or paid apprenticeships.

The initiative addresses a fundamental reason young people turn to crime – lack of alternative ways to make money – by providing mentoring, training, and skill development opportunities. As coach Simone noted, seeing young people change their lives at these gyms has been “amazing,” suggesting the potential for continued positive impact on lives in North London.

The funding from Sport Relief, supported by Jill Scott’s 388-mile challenge, ensures resources for youth intervention initiatives within local communities including football, boxing, cycling, and more.

This means the Pymmes Park gym can continue offering free community sessions while expanding mentoring programmes that help young people gain qualifications and employment opportunities.

For the broader North London community, the gym creates a “gang-neutral” space where people feel comfortable and safe working out, similar to the original Langdon Park site chosen for its gang-neutral zone proximity to a youth centre. This provides vulnerable people walking by with access to fitness facilities while fostering stronger, safer, and better-connected communities through street workout movements.