Sussex Police Clamp Down on Knife Sales with Teen Testers
Operation Safety Puts Shops to the Test
Sussex Police have taken a tough stance on knife crime with their latest crackdown, dubbed Operation Safety. To catch out shops flouting the law, officers used 16-year-old volunteers to try and buy knives. The mission: test if retailers properly check IDs before selling bladed items.
On January 2, teams visited seven stores in Brighton and Hove alongside Trading Standards. Shockingly, only one shop sold a knife to the underage volunteer. That store received a community resolution, and disciplinary action was swiftly handed down by the company.
Improvement Shines Through in Follow-Up Checks
Just two weeks later, on January 16, two more teen volunteers returned to nine shops across the city. Of those, eight had failed previous tests, and one was a fresh target. This time, all nine stores passed with flying colours, refusing to sell knives to the underage buyers and properly demanding ID.
Police Warn: No More Slip-Ups
PC Kate Hancox from Brighton and Hove’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said:
“The results of these latest Op Safety checks are extremely satisfying. With all the stores passing, the message is clear: selling knives to under-18s will not be tolerated.”
“Bladed articles fuel violence and pose huge risks not just to the public but also to the retailers themselves. Repeat offenders face prosecution and could lose their livelihoods.”
“It is illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18. Our Challenge 25 policy means anyone who looks under 25 must prove their age.”
“Operation Safety will continue working with community partners to educate on knife dangers and hit hard with enforcement when needed.”
