Posted on Tuesday 17th May 2022
Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards team are working with local retailers to make sure they are aware of their responsibilities when selling knives.
The work is part of Staffordshire Police’s Ditch the Blade campaign which launched on Monday 16 May to help highlight the legal requirements for retailers and to reduce knife crime in the county.
Trading standards officers have been offering advice to retailers on making sure staff are properly trained and that they are aware of the consequences of breaking the law. Knives cannot be sold to under-18s. Products include kitchen knives, retractable bladed knives, machetes and swords.
Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s community’s leader said: “Clearly knife crime is a concern for everyone, though fortunately Staffordshire remains a place where incidents are rare.
“The Ditch the Blade campaign is something our Trading Standards Service supports each year by advising and working with retailers who sell knives. Businesses of all sizes need to know the rules on selling these products and make sure their employee training policies are thorough and robust, with regard to responsible knife sales.
“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 25. It’s by all working together to help encourage young people not to carry knives that we can tackle the issue of knife crime and help keep our communities safe for everyone.”
People can find out more about the Ditch the Blade campaign at https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/ditchtheblade.
Retailers can also get information and advice at: https://nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance.