Menu
05/02/2009
Major Retailers Say 'No' To Knife Crime
Major British retailers have joined forces with the Government and the police as part of a new crackdown on knife crime launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today.
The Home Office has been working with 21 retailers and the British Retail Consortium to encourage them to adopt best practice and limit availability of knives to under-18s.
In a new campaign that will be running in supermarkets and other retailers, new signs will be displayed in product aisles where knives are sold and at point of sale to explain that proof of age will be required if the buyer appears to be under 18.
The materials clearly display the message 'We are working in partnership with the Home Office to prevent the sale of knives to under 18s'.
The retailers have signed up to a six point commitment to:
"We are determined to stamp out knife crime and get weapons off our streets. Everyone - government, police, communities and businesses - has a role to play in tackling knife crime. Combined with tough laws and proactive policing, I hope this new campaign will help save lives and make our streets safer."
The Home Secretary unveiled the campaign at an Asda store in south London, where she was accompanied by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock, Head of the Tackling Knives Action Programme and Sean Bowen, Head of Security for ASDA.
The Government has provided £3.4 million to the ten Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) areas to provide extra reassurance and safety to young people in and around school.
Since March 2008 the Government has provided 350 search wands and 100 search arches to police forces across England and Wales, supplemented by an additional 700 arches and wands to the ten TKAP forces. In these areas there were over 150,000 stop and searches, resulting in the recovery over 3,400 knives between June and December 2008.
(JM/BMcC)
The Home Office has been working with 21 retailers and the British Retail Consortium to encourage them to adopt best practice and limit availability of knives to under-18s.
In a new campaign that will be running in supermarkets and other retailers, new signs will be displayed in product aisles where knives are sold and at point of sale to explain that proof of age will be required if the buyer appears to be under 18.
The materials clearly display the message 'We are working in partnership with the Home Office to prevent the sale of knives to under 18s'.
The retailers have signed up to a six point commitment to:
- Provide training and support to staff on the sale of knives, and keep a register of completion of training
- Clearly display to the public signs stating that knives are not for sale to under-18s
- Ensure that display and storage of knives minimises the risk of theft
- Ensure till prompts are in place to remind staff at the point of sale
- Enhance safeguards on internet sales to address attempted underage sale of knives
- Monitor attempted underage sales and share information with local police and other partners
"We are determined to stamp out knife crime and get weapons off our streets. Everyone - government, police, communities and businesses - has a role to play in tackling knife crime. Combined with tough laws and proactive policing, I hope this new campaign will help save lives and make our streets safer."
The Home Secretary unveiled the campaign at an Asda store in south London, where she was accompanied by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock, Head of the Tackling Knives Action Programme and Sean Bowen, Head of Security for ASDA.
The Government has provided £3.4 million to the ten Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) areas to provide extra reassurance and safety to young people in and around school.
Since March 2008 the Government has provided 350 search wands and 100 search arches to police forces across England and Wales, supplemented by an additional 700 arches and wands to the ten TKAP forces. In these areas there were over 150,000 stop and searches, resulting in the recovery over 3,400 knives between June and December 2008.
(JM/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
29 June 2010
Tragic Eastender Backs Knife Scheme
Fact and fiction are merging today as a former 'TV soap' character uses her own all-too real tragedy to help tackle the scourge of knife crime in the UK. Brooke Kinsella is to head up a fact-finding mission into the work of schemes designed to stop young people carrying and using knives, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.
Tragic Eastender Backs Knife Scheme
Fact and fiction are merging today as a former 'TV soap' character uses her own all-too real tragedy to help tackle the scourge of knife crime in the UK. Brooke Kinsella is to head up a fact-finding mission into the work of schemes designed to stop young people carrying and using knives, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.
16 October 2008
Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says
Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed. The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.
Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says
Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed. The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.
14 July 2006
Knife amnesty makes streets safer
The Home Office has today revealed that a total of 89,864 knives were handed over during the National five week Knife Amnesty. During the period from May 24 until June 30, people were encouraged to dispose of their knives in secure bins at police stations throughout England and Wales.
Knife amnesty makes streets safer
The Home Office has today revealed that a total of 89,864 knives were handed over during the National five week Knife Amnesty. During the period from May 24 until June 30, people were encouraged to dispose of their knives in secure bins at police stations throughout England and Wales.
18 September 2008
Knife Crime Measures Introduced 'To Cut Red Tape'
Plans to fast-track measures to cut form filling in the 10 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) police forces were outlined today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
Knife Crime Measures Introduced 'To Cut Red Tape'
Plans to fast-track measures to cut form filling in the 10 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) police forces were outlined today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
26 October 2015
Knife Crime Initiative Launched
The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a week of activity to tackle knife crime in the Capital, following a successful campaign in the summer.
Knife Crime Initiative Launched
The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a week of activity to tackle knife crime in the Capital, following a successful campaign in the summer.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy day with outbreaks of rain, most persistent and occasionally heavy across southern and western counties this afternoon. Risk of low cloud and fog patches affecting the Down coast. Light winds. Maximum temperature 15 °C.Tonight:Continuing cloudy through the evening with further outbreaks of rain, the rain turning lighter and patchier from the south overnight. Winds remain light. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
