Bargain Store sells knives to children (From Croydon Guardian)
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Croydon bargain shop sells knives to children
11:40am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By Nick Hitchens
The knives sold to two 15-year-olds
A thrift store owner has landed in hot water after her assistant sold knives to two 15-year-olds.
Pragna Bhimjiani, owner of Bargain Store, on London Road, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court to selling a knife to a child.
She was fined £900 and ordered to pay costs of £889.50, as well as a £15 victim surcharge.
Appearing on September 4, the court heard how two test purchasers working with Croydon trading standards, carried out a sting operation at her shop in West Croydon on February 14.
The 15-year-olds were sold a set of three knives by a shop assistant - Bhimjiani was not present but was prosecuted as the store owner.
Councillor Tony Pearson, Croydon Council’s deputy cabinet member for community safety, said: "Knife crime is an issue that the council, in partnership with local police, takes very seriously.
"In addition to being irresponsible, the sale of knives to youngsters is illegal and traders have a duty to demand proof of age of anybody they suspect as being too young to legitimately buy a bladed instrument."
The council has offered shopkeepers the opportunity to attend free Fair Trading Awards-accredited Do You Pass training sessions, which educate them about preventing sales of age-restricted products.
Comments(5)
sureshtank
says...
7:28am Wed 19 Sep 12
Crease2000
says...
8:30am Wed 19 Sep 12
Ketsuban
says...
8:52pm Wed 19 Sep 12
Surreydon
says...
9:25pm Sun 23 Sep 12
TheEverardedbutt wrote:You can demand that these crooked traders attend umpteen training sessions but it won't have the slightest effect, as they have no morals or ethics.
"The council has offered shopkeepers the opportunity to attend free Fair Trading Awards-accredited Do You Pass training sessions, which educate them about preventing sales of age-restricted products."
I think all shop keepers should be made to attend these training sessions, that way they will all know what is expected of them it may increase their awareness from the start and stop a lot of the underage sales.
All bladed articles should not be on the shop floor anyway. They should be sold from behind the counter, increasing the chances that the cashier will take the necessary steps to verify age.
It will also prevent a lot of knives being stolen from these types of shops, after all that is how many of the knife carrying teenagers acquire them!
They are well aware of their responsibilities and, frankly, don't give a ****!!
TheEverardedbutt says...
4:43pm Tue 18 Sep 12
I think all shop keepers should be made to attend these training sessions, that way they will all know what is expected of them it may increase their awareness from the start and stop a lot of the underage sales.
All bladed articles should not be on the shop floor anyway. They should be sold from behind the counter, increasing the chances that the cashier will take the necessary steps to verify age.
It will also prevent a lot of knives being stolen from these types of shops, after all that is how many of the knife carrying teenagers acquire them!