6/10 Retailers in Some Areas Are Breaking the Law on Underage Knife Sales

In the UK, knife crime is a serious issue that has been growing over the years. With more underage customers purchasing these knives due to a lack of age verification or enforcement, they are simply getting into the wrong hands. While all knife crime in the UK cannot be blamed on underage customers, the issue is one that needs to be addressed. Read on to hear more about this and find out how AgeChecked can help.

Improper Age Verification

According to reports, around 6 out of 10 retailers in some areas across the UK are breaking the law on underage knife sales. According to the law, it is illegal to sell a knife of any kind to anyone under the age of 18 years old. In Scotland, kitchen knives and cutlery can be purchased by those between 16 and 18 year olds. If a retailer is found to have sold a knife to an underage customer, they can receive an unlimited fine and face up to 6 months in prison.

However, with more than 50% of retailers breaking the law currently, it is clear that the UK government needs to be doing more to protect these minors. The sale of knives online without proper age verification could be contributing to this issue.

Knife Crime in the UK

So, why is the underage sale of knives so important? In the UK, knife crime is a very serious issue, and it is a type of crime that has been growing over the years. According to recent research, there were 45,627 incidents involving knives or sharp instruments in 2019 with a 7% increase on the previous year. If you compare this to 2011, you are looking at over 15,000 more incidents in 2019.

With knife crime in the UK being such a large issue, the UK government have been looking into this more recently. Through the 2019 Offensive Weapons Act, Knife Crime Prevention Orders were introduced. This, however, focuses more on knife crime and the act of carrying a knife rather than the act of selling a knife to a minor. AgeChecked believes that there needs to be a much larger focus on this.

How AgeChecked Can Help

If a retailer is selling knives online or in-store, adequate age checks need to be adhered to. Of course, this can be a lot harder to do online but it is not impossible. With the AgeChecked age verification service, retailers can adhere to all legal requirements and make sure that they are not selling knives to minors. AgeChecked is compliant and legal without putting customers off the final purchase.

With AgeChecked, retailers can protect their business and protect minors in the UK at the same time. While not all knife crime is as a result of minors carrying knives, this kind of verification can contribute to the reduction of minors carrying knives over time.

If you are involved in the sale of knives, make sure to get in touch with AgeChecked today. Our AV solution is streamlined and compliant with the law.