70% of Chiswick Shops Make Underage Knife Sales

Undercover operations show widespread flouting of the law

A recent series of undercover operations in the Chiswick area has shown that 70% of shops that were tested were willing to sell knives to children.

A broader operation across the borough of Hounslow by trading standards officers showed that 50% of shops were willing to flout the law by selling alcohol to youths under 16.

Shopkeepers who sell age-restricted products such as alcohol and knives are being warned that they face prosecution if they sell goods to underage children.

The test purchases were carried out at shops around the borough using school children volunteers, escorted by officers, to buy alcohol and knives.

Acting on intelligence provided by members of the public, the operation found that half of the shops tested sold alcohol to the young volunteers, who had just turned 15, without challenging them about their age.

Cllr Barbara Reid, Executive Member for Environment and Planning at Hounslow Council, said, "It’s staggering that we are still finding so many shops selling to young people, who were obviously underage, without asking them to verify their ages. Most worrying is that, given recent attention on the issue of knives and knife crime, it was so easy for the young people to get hold of them. "

She added that the message for retailers was simple: ask for proof of age and if none is forthcoming then don't make the sale.

The council’s trading standards department will be continuing the program of test purchasing for age-restricted products, and are urging residents to let them know of any shops that are selling products such as cigarettes, alcohol and knives to underage shoppers by calling 020 8583 5555 or emailing tradingstandards@hounslow.gov.uk.

August 25, 2006