Shop caught selling axe to girl aged 13

A GIRL of 13 was sold an axe in an undercover police test.

Out of 31 firms, ten illegally let children aged from 13 to 15 buy bladed weapons, while nine were allowed to buy knives.

The girl of 13 was sold a small axe by a shop which cannot be named for legal reasons.

The sales were despite systems to remind cashiers to ask for ID on prohibited items.

The cashiers were dealt with using community resolutions, in which the staff had to promise to challenge shoppers who look younger than 25.

Hampshire Police carried out the operation in Southampton.

PC Mark Kingston said the results were ‘disappointing’, adding ‘all the stores will be subject to future testing’.

The force recorded 828 knife crimes from October 2016 to September 2017, an increase of 145 per cent from 2012-13.