BROMLEY: Shops urged to sign Blade Safe knife code

Blade Safe is an initiative devised by the Safer Bromley Partnership and supported by News Shopper.

Bromley Council, as a lead member of the partnership, will be using its Trading Standards team to encourage shops to sign up to a four point plan:

1. Challenge anyone who looks under 25 and don’t sell a knife unless they have proper ID for proof of age – over 18.

2. Keep a refusal book in which to record anyone who looks underage and attempt to buy a knife without the correct ID.

3. Deliver training to point-of-sale staff on the correct sales procedure for knives and other age-restricted products.

4. Display in store Blade Safe and other age-restricted advice posters – as relevant to stock.

In practice, this will mean slightly different approaches according to the size and experience of the retailer – some will be able to use display cabinets and others will demonstrate their commitment by placing the products close to tills, for instance.

When customers see the Blade Safe sign in the shop, they will know the issue of knife crime is being taken seriously by the shop they are in, and they are playing their part in preventing it.

Cllr Colin Bloom, chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership, said: “We hope this innovative idea will get people thinking about how knives are displayed and sold.

“They are already restricted products which should not, by law, be sold to those under 18, but we want to ask retailers to challenge and not sell to anyone who looks under 25 and cannot produce the right ID in order to help keep knives out of the hands of young people.

“This is one more measure in the fight against knife crime. Members of the public can do their bit by looking out for and choosing retailers displaying the Blade Safe sign when they are out shopping.”

Deputy borough commander Matt Bell from Bromley police said: “We welcome this latest idea to heighten awareness of handling, displaying and selling knives in a responsible manner.”