At the weekend, police cadets across the Avon and Somerset area took part in a test purchasing exercise to ensure that local retailers are complying with the law, which makes it illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18.
In total they visited 29 stores across the force area. 22 shops passed the test and refused to sell a knife to a teenager. However, seven of the shops that were tested failed, including one in Bath, and sold a knife to a person under 18.
The shops which failed included two major supermarket chains as well as a number of smaller, independent stores.
At one shop in Bristol, a 14-year-old was sold a 9 inch serrated knife. Afterwards she commented: “It’s scary how easy it is to buy a knife.”
Other bladed items sold to the teenagers included a machete, scissors, kitchen knives and a lock knife.
The shops that failed were notified that a test purchase had taken place and the managers and staff members who sold the knives were spoken to by police officers and questioned under caution.
Prosecutions will now take place, but the form this will take will be decided on a case by case basis, depending on what level of training staff have received as well as other factors.
In Somerset, the police were supported by Trading Standards officers, who offered advice and training to retailers, assisted the cadets in the actual test purchasing, and supported officers in speaking with store management and checking of staff records.
Chief Inspector Chegwyn added: “What’s reassuring is that most of the stores who failed test purchases last autumn passed this time round, which shows our education initiative is working.
“Reporting through Fearless has also increased since we ran this operation last October, so our message is getting through.
“My hope is that this week’s operation will build on the work we’re already doing in schools, with families and local communities, and will help to reduce the number of young people carrying knives.”