Posted on Monday 18th March 2019
Cllr Gill Heath, Cabinet Member for Communities
Nearly all shops visited as part of a trading standards knife sales test purchase operation refused to sell to underage volunteers.
During a week-long operation, underage volunteers working with the trading standards team were refused sales in all but one shop when they tried to buy knives. Twenty-four shops were visited in Newcastle, Stafford and Tamworth, with just one failure in Newcastle. The team is supporting Operation Sceptre – an initiative to combat knife crime being led by Staffordshire Police.
Trading standards officers visit any shops which fail or will contact head offices to offer advice on ensuring their staff are properly trained and are aware of the consequences of breaking the law.
Staffordshire County Council’s communities leader Gill Heath said:
“We are pleased with the high levels of compliance which demonstrate that Staffordshire traders take their responsibilities seriously. However, one failure is one too many so our officers will be working with the business concerned to ensure it does not happen again.
“We are confident the trading standards advice and support interventions after the failings in previous operations have had an effect, in addition to the high-profile nature of the operation.
“This gives us all reassurances that they are playing their part in making Staffordshire a safer place.
“Retailers of all sizes need to ensure their employee training policies are thorough and robust with regard to responsible knife sales. This issue is vitally important to local communities as well as their own business.
“It is illegal to sell a knife or similar product to anyone under 18 years of age and best practice is for the retailer to adopt a recognised age verification system, often referred to as Challenge 21 or 25.”
Superintendent Ricky Fields, head of operational services at Staffordshire Police, said:
“The work by Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards team shines a welcome light on those retailers willing to ignore the law. To continue this good work we will be working with partners to enhance standards and training in stores across the county to prevent knives falling into the wrong hands.”