Highbury Magistrates have issued two Islington traders each with a £1,000 fine for selling knives to children.
Costs totalling nearly £2,000 were also awarded to Islington Council who brought the prosecution, following a joint operation undertaken by Islington Police and Islington Council Trading Standards.
Mr Farzal Rabi (trading as 'Star Pound Plus' at 55 Seven Sisters Road, Holloway) and Planet Trading Ltd (trading as 'Pound Planet' at 52 Chapel Market, Islington) both pleaded guilty to offences under the Criminal Justice Act relating to the supply of knives to under 16s.
In early 2006 a 15-year-old test purchaser (under the supervision of Islington Council Trading Standards officers and the police) was sold a knife in each of the two shops. The test purchasing came immediately after Trading Standards officers had visited both shops and advised the traders that knife sales to under 16s are illegal.
On this first occasion they were sent warning letters and given an information pack to train staff in how to avoid underage sales. But both traders went on to sell knives again in a follow up exercise conducted in March 2006. They were convicted at Highbury Magistrates Court on 21 November 2006.
Cllr George Allan, Executive Member for Customer Focus, Islington Council said: "The council works very hard with local traders to ensure they understand that it is illegal to sell knives to under 16s.
"If they still break the law - even after receiving a warning - we will do everything within our power to prosecute.
"It is not acceptable for our young people and Islington residents to be put at risk through irresponsible sales of a potentially lethal weapon."
Note to Editors:
The Government is currently putting through legislation that will amend the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and raise the age at which knives can be bought from 16 to 18.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008