Underage children able to buy knives at one in five shops across Lancashire

Volunteers aged 13 to 16 were able to buy a range of knives at shops across Preston, South Ribble, Hyndburn, Burnley and Wyre. Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

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The underage test purchasers were able to buy knives at one in five shops tested during a week-long sting operation across Lancashire[2]. Officers from Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards team joined forces with Lancashire Constabulary to undertake underage test purchases at 36 shops as part of vital work undertaken as part of Operation Sceptre this year.

This is a national knife crime awareness campaign, with intensified weeks of action against knife crime.

Underage test purchasers were able to buy knives at one in five shops tested during a week-long sting operation across Lancashire

Volunteers aged 13 to 16 were able to purchase a range of knives costing between GBP1.99 and GBP2.99 at seven shops across Preston[3], South Ribble[4], Hyndburn, Burnley[5] and Wyre. They also undertook testing in Morecambe, Lancaster, Fylde, Ribble Valley, Rossendale and Pendle, but shopkeepers in these areas all adhered to 'Challenge 25' checks for young people.