Shops urged to stop selling knives in battle over rise in crime

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, is urging retailers to become 'no knife shops' by pledging not to sell blades unless it is a core part of their business, such as hardware and DIY shops and suppliers of kitchenware.

Officials believe this would help reduce the availability of knives and the risk of them being used in violent crime.

It comes after it was revealed last month that knife crime was rising faster in the West Midlands than anywhere else in the country.

Knife crime surged by a massive 17 per cent in the West Midlands, in the year to September 2019 when there were more than 500 offences involving knives.

In some areas of the country, six out of 10 retailers selling knives have been found to be breaking the law on underage knife sales with shop staff caught selling knives to children as young as 14.

An Express & Star investigation in 2018 uncovered dozens of deadly weapons easily available on the high street.

Blatant

The LGA is urging the Government to extend the Home Office Prosecutions Fund - set up as part of the Serious Violence Strategy but due to expire this year - which has helped some councils prosecute retailers for blatant breaches of knife sale laws.

It also wants to work with the Government on taking a "public health approach" to tackling knife crime by investing more in early intervention and prevention initiatives, including targeted youth services, which councils have been forced to cut back on in recent years due to funding pressures.

Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Rising knife crime is extremely worrying, causing horrendous destruction and grief in our communities and councils are uncovering some shocking cases of illegal knife sales which risk fuelling this tragic epidemic.

“There are many legitimate reasons for buying and selling knives, and most businesses sell knives responsibly. But for many retailers, particularly smaller shops such as convenience stores and corner shops, knife sales typically generate a tiny fraction of overall business income. We urge retailers, including online businesses, to be part of collective efforts to reduce the availability of knives and seriously consider why they need to sell them, and if they do, to ensure that they are complying with their responsibilities to prevent under-age sales.

“By becoming a ‘No Knife Shop’, businesses can make a bold statement of commitment to community safety and help stop kitchen and DIY knives falling into the wrong hands and being used as deadly weapons."