Shops selling knives in the City of Westminster have been warned not to sell knives or blades to children by the Council’s Trading Standards officers.
The Police and officers from Trading Standards have been conducting a series of test purchases in an undercover sting operation targeting retailers which are breaking the law by selling knives to children.
Two teenagers were sent into a number of shops around the Queen’s Park and Edgware Road area in a number of targeted test purchases within several hardware and discount stores.
Council officials say this is just the first step in a package of measures set to tackle knife crime in Westminster. Since May 2007 16 premises have been caught selling knives to underage children for which they have all been issued formal police warnings.
Retailers who sell knives or blades to anyone under the age of 18 years could face a fine of up to £5,000 fine or a six month jail term.
