Three Northampton stores fail ‘Challenge 25’ knife purchase test conducted by police

A knife purchase test operation that was carried out by police has found three stores that did not enforce ‘Challenge 25’.

Northampton Neighborhood Policing Team enlisted local response officers and emergency service cadets to conduct the operation in Northampton yesterday (August 25), after knife crime was identified as particular concern by the team.

The young people visited a number of stores and attempted to buy a range of knives and blades, which should only be sold to people who can prove that they are over the age of 18.

From the 17 stores that were tested, 14 complied with the ‘Challenge 25’ rule and did not sell the knives to the young people.

However, three stores did sell the blades, so have now been reported for summons. They were not named by police.

Posting on Facebook after the operation, officers from the team said: “Tackling knife crime is a force priority and we will use a range of tactics and work with partners to deter people from carrying knives.

“The Neighbourhoods Team is concerned that young people choose to carry knives or other weapons but they cannot tackle this issue without the support of the wider community.

“Everyone has a part to play in preventing these offences from taking place.”

Further test purchase operations will be carried out to ensure that shops are complying with regulations.

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