Knife purchase operation puts Northampton shops to the test

Checks by Northamptonshire Police to make sure shops are not breaking the law by selling knives to under-18s have had positive results.

Checks organised by the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team and carried out this week as part of the Force’s week of action against serious violence, saw three young volunteers who are working with CIRV visit shops in Northampton to attempt to buy knives.

Thankfully, all the shops visited refused the sales.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Beth Warren said: “We all know how dangerous knives are and how carrying them can have fatal consequences.

“That’s why it’s vitally important for shops to play their part by not selling knives to children and it’s really positive that all of the shops we visited did the right thing by refusing to sell these items to our young volunteers.

“This operation demonstrates the breadth of responsibility that exists in helping reduce young people’s access to weapons and reduce incidents of knives being used to threaten or harm others.

“If anyone has concerns that a shop is breaking the law in selling bladed articles to those aged under 18, please report this to us so we can look into it.”