26% of shops sell knives to children

A QUARTER of shops sell knives illegally to children, research suggests.

Under 18s were able to buy a knife in 26 per cent of 2,357 test sales last year, according to figures from retail age checking firm Serve Legal.

At shops classed as homeware or DIY stores, where 672 tests were carried out, 41 per cent sold the blades to young mystery shoppers without checking identification. This also happened in 21 per cent of supermarkets, where 1,685 test purchases were carried out.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed 39,598 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument were recorded in 2017, up a fifth on the previous year.