The stores STILL dealing in death Shops selling knives to youths despite crackdown
easy it was. I don’t think I look 18 and I definitely don’t look 25. At Poundland, I bought the knife with no questions despite it stating Challenge 25 on the packaging.
“He just scanned it and didn’t ask for ID or how old I was. When I got out I looked at the receipt, which says ‘Age Confirmed Over 18’. At Morrisons, the cashier didn’t ask how old I was. The only question I was asked was if I had a Morrisons card. It’s worrying.”
Our investigator John Siddle, overseeing visits in Warwickshire, said: “To see the way staff simply handed over these potentially deadly blades was horrifying. You might have expected retailers to be on high alert after the Home Office report but our findings suggest otherwise. It is clear a lot more has to be done.”
A Poundland and a Poundworld also asked no questions of a 17-year-old in Streatham, South London. His blades were bought close to where Lee Casey, 39, was stabbed to death a day earlier.
And our volunteer, who bought a £1 utility knife in Poundland, was also shocked as he lost friend Alex Smith, 16, in a knife attack in Camden last month. His receipt said the cashier checked for ID but they had not.
He said: “The guy took one look at me and the knife and laughed. A good friend of mine died. It breaks your heart. To think I could buy a knife that could kill or hurt someone frightens me. Could I be next?” Staff at the nearby Poundworld let him buy a £1.50 utility knife. Tesco Extra, a Sainsbury’s Local, Lidl and the Aldi in Streatham tham all said they no longer ger stocked knives. Argos os was selling a block of five for £8 but asked d our teen for ID.
Our volunteer in Kenilworth was refused sales at Sainsbury’s and Wilko.
In Huddersfield, West Yorks, a volunteer of 14 tried to buy cooking knives at 20 sites, including Wilko, Sainsbury’s, TK Max, House of Fraser, Morrisons and The Range. All asked for ID and refused sales.
Last week’s report followed undercover store visits between April 2018 and this March. Tesco and Asda have further restricted sales.
When confronted with our evidence, Poundland said it would remind staff “of the importance of the age check”. Morrisons said it was probing, adding: “Our policy is to ask anybody that looks less than 25 to provide ID.” Poundworld did not respond.
Meanwhile, a man in his early 20s became the fourth person held on suspicion of the attempted murder of a boy of 15.
The s t a bbing victim is fighting for life in hospital after Friday’s attack in T Tottenham, North Lo London.