Bira has been working with the Home Office and other agencies to ensure that there is sufficient education and enforcement to support independent retailers such as cookshops and hardware shops that legitimately sell knives and dangerous substances.
In this hub we'll share the latest legislation, training and resources to help retailers that sell knives, blades or dangerous substances.
Sale of knives to persons under 18
As of 1st April 2023, retailers found guilty of selling knives to underage customers could face unlimited fines and individuals could face a possible prison sentence of up to six months.
It's important to stress that the sale of retail knives includes any bladed item, including many kitchen utensils and even butter knives. The legislation also includes sale both in-store and online.
The full sentencing guidelines, covering both individuals and organisations, can be found on the Sentencing Council website here
Reduce your risk of breaking the law
To minimise your risk, it’s important to take the following steps:
- Have all your staff undergo the five training modules (The modules will take approximately 1 hour to complete).
- Download, print and share the Good Practice Guide with your employees… test them to prove they have read and understood it… and add the training modules and training modules into your new employee induction program.
- If you don’t already have a staff training recording system, download, complete, store, and regularly review the Staff Training Record (which can be used for other training)
- Complete a checklist for each staff member and store that with the rest of your training records.
- Download, print and display the public A4 poster and staff-facing flyer in a clearly visible place in your business.
Resources to help you stay within the law
The National Business Crime Centre website contains a good practice guide and additional training modules for retailers, including a Knife Retailers Toolkit featuring:
- Training modules on storage, assessing age, challenging and checking someone for I.D and when to call in the police
- Responsible Retailers Agreement
- Good practice guide
- Training record sheet
- Training checklist
- Posters (Customer and Staff areas)
- Stickers
Visit our Policy & Campaigns pages
Our campaigns cover a wide spectrum of issues crucial to the success of independent traders. One of them is Retail Crime.
See other Resource Hubs
We have compiled everything you need to know on the subjects that matter to you the most. Choose a topic of interest to discover more.
Latest News
All News-
A new licensing scheme is being proposed by the Government to block illegal knife sales and imports
The new licensing scheme being proposed by the Government is set to help save lives ad keep dangerous weapons out of young hands by blocking illegal knife sales and imports.
-
Employers’ Duty to Inform Workers of Their Right to Join a Union
Bira has responded to the Government’s consultation on proposals to introduce a new duty for employers to inform workers of their right to join a trade union.
-
Retailers warned not to sell baby sleep pillows by OPSS, citing 'significant concerns'
Retailers and online sellers have been warned not to sell or market baby sleep pillows for infants under 12 months after the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
-
Scheme to send shop thieves to court without need for arrests praised by Bira
A new scheme allowing suspected shoplifters to be sent to court without being arrested has been welcomed by Bira as a faster way to deliver justice and deter shop theft.