Shops selling knives to minors

Date published: 12 March 2010

Four traders have been caught selling knives to youngsters who were clearly underage - it is a criminal offence to sell a knife, knife blade, razor blade or axe to a person under the age of 18 years old.

The council’s trading standards officers carry out routine undercover test purchases using underage volunteers to help enforce this law and punish those retailers who are caught trading illegally and irresponsibly. Such an operation was carried on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 February 2010 where 14 shops in total across the borough were visited, of which four sold a knife to a minor.

Andy Glover, Public Protection Manager, at Rochdale Borough Council said: “To have found four shops in the borough selling knives to young people is disturbing and totally unacceptable. We’re urging shops to act responsibly and ask for proof of age for the sale of all age restricted products. We take illegal sales very seriously, and any traders who sell knives to underage people will be investigated and risk prosecution”.

There are strict guidelines that rule the conduct of the council’s test purchase exercises designed to protect the young volunteer whilst being fair at all times to the trader. Volunteers must always tell the truth about their age, if asked. Retailers should always ask to see photographic identification that proves the customer’s date of birth if they are unsure of the person’s age.

Although ten premises refused to sell knives without proof of age or identification, four traders sold to underage volunteers without asking to see any photo ID.

The council has begun investigating the retailers caught trading illegally and irresponsibly. The maximum penalty upon conviction of selling a knife to a minor is £5,000 fine or up to six months imprisonment.