05/02/2009

Major Retailers Say 'No' To Knife Crime

Major British retailers have joined forces with the Government and the police as part of a new crackdown on knife crime launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today.

The Home Office has been working with 21 retailers and the British Retail Consortium to encourage them to adopt best practice and limit availability of knives to under-18s.

In a new campaign that will be running in supermarkets and other retailers, new signs will be displayed in product aisles where knives are sold and at point of sale to explain that proof of age will be required if the buyer appears to be under 18.

The materials clearly display the message 'We are working in partnership with the Home Office to prevent the sale of knives to under 18s'.

The retailers have signed up to a six point commitment to:
  • Provide training and support to staff on the sale of knives, and keep a register of completion of training
  • Clearly display to the public signs stating that knives are not for sale to under-18s
  • Ensure that display and storage of knives minimises the risk of theft
  • Ensure till prompts are in place to remind staff at the point of sale
  • Enhance safeguards on internet sales to address attempted underage sale of knives
  • Monitor attempted underage sales and share information with local police and other partners
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I am very pleased that so many leading high street retailers are joining forces to say no to knife crime. This reinforces our message to anyone who is tempted to break the law.

"We are determined to stamp out knife crime and get weapons off our streets. Everyone - government, police, communities and businesses - has a role to play in tackling knife crime. Combined with tough laws and proactive policing, I hope this new campaign will help save lives and make our streets safer."

The Home Secretary unveiled the campaign at an Asda store in south London, where she was accompanied by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock, Head of the Tackling Knives Action Programme and Sean Bowen, Head of Security for ASDA.

The Government has provided £3.4 million to the ten Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) areas to provide extra reassurance and safety to young people in and around school.

Since March 2008 the Government has provided 350 search wands and 100 search arches to police forces across England and Wales, supplemented by an additional 700 arches and wands to the ten TKAP forces. In these areas there were over 150,000 stop and searches, resulting in the recovery over 3,400 knives between June and December 2008.

(JM/BMcC)

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