Well that was the case in the first few independent shops across Bury and Rochdale that were targeted in a GMP operation aimed at preventing the sale of knives to under age
The operation is led by police cadets who visit independent hardware shops-
The idea as explained to us by Sgt Paul Heap who is leading the operation is to test whether the shops are sticking to their obligations to challenge people who are under eighteen
The cadets volunteering today are 13 and 14 and look their age so there is no ambiguity about their ages and should be asked by the person serving.They are under no pressure, officers are close by and if they feel in any danger, they are asked to either leave the shop or buy sweets or crisps instead
The cadets will attempt to purchase knives which will maybe cost only two to three pounds and if the shop sells the knofe, they will come straight to the police where they will be de briefed,give a description of who sold them and the circumstances
Police will them immediately visit the shop, whether they pass or fail the test, purely educational, they stress, either to praise or to point out the law.If they fail they will get a visit in a few weeks time.A second failure would probably lead to prosecutions
The first shop in the centre of Rochdale said “ no f***ing chance” as one of the cadets asked to buy a £1.50 knife on display in the shop while the second shop actually did not sell knives at all
The shops have been chosen at random, all local independent type shops.not governed by the rules of the main chains which would often have identification flagsas certain items come up on the till
Of course shops selling knives is just one way of getting the potential weapon, online sales are another or just getting them from the kitchen draw so this sort of operation is just one part of a wider Police operation both locally and nationally against knife crime
Shops can make sure access is restricted,CCTV monitored
The next shop, the cadets were refused again, the cadets instead buying a bag of sweets-In the follow up visit, the shopkeeper said he was suspicious immediately thinking they were going to pinch something
Sgt Heap giving him some advice asking him to move the knives where they were in sight of the CCTV cameras
Two outlets in Heywood were then targeted, one again refusing to sell anything but at a second which we won’t name, one of the cadets managed to purchase a two pound kitchen knife
Describing the incident, one of the cadets showing us straight after the purchase was quite shocked that he had been allowed to purchase the knife which could quite easily be used as a bladed weapon for bad intent
He described walking in realising how big the store was with multiple rooms and found the knife along with many other knives and other tools on an easily accessible shelf within reach
At the till, there was no question of age, the shop assistant took the five pounds and gave them the change
The shop was visited immediately after by Sgt Heap who explained to the owner what had happened and what the due process and will be getting a visit again in a few weeks
