THE MAJORITY of shops in Sandwell are failing to ask young people for ID when they are attempting to purchase knives, an investigation has found.

Sandwell Council’s Trading Standards team, along with West Midlands Police, conducted undercover test purchasing operations last month to determine whether local retailers were complying with laws prohibiting the sales of knives to underage people.

The operation saw 15-year-olds attempt to purchase knives and other bladed items from shops around the borough.

In the UK, you must be 18 to legally purchase most types of knives.

They found that nine out of 10 shops failed to ask the teenagers for a form of ID, allowing for the illegal sale of kitchen knives, Stanley knives and other bladed items.

Expressing deep concern about the findings, Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: “Knife crime devastates local communities and impacts the lives of many young people.

“Our Trading Standards team alongside the Police work tirelessly to conduct test purchases and educate retailers on responsible knife sales.

“It is unacceptable that so many retailers are breaking the law, and I expect urgent action to prevent young people from accessing knives.

The Knife Angel has been in Oldbury for the past two monthsThe Knife Angel has been in Oldbury for the past two months (Image: West Midlands Police) “Selling knives to underage individuals is not only illegal but also irresponsible.

“We will continue to carry out test purchase operations to protect our communities and hold offending businesses accountable.

“This work is crucial to safeguarding young people and our wider community from the dangers of knife crime.”

Calling the findings “alarming”, Sandwell Council have said the offending retailers have been formally warned and will be subject to follow-up test purchases, with the risk of criminal prosecution and substantial fines for any further breaches.

West Midlands Police have said they are dedicated to taking “tough, targeted and joint” action against knife crime in Sandwell, including carrying out extra patrols in “high-risk” areas, regularly engaging with all schools and colleges, using mobile metal detectors at tram and bus stops, fitting weapon surrender bins across the borough and distributing bleed kits to help minimise deaths from knife crime.

Inspector Colin Gallier, from West Midlands Police, said: “We will not stop and ask that you help us by talking to young people about the consequences of carrying a weapon and share information with us about who you suspect of having a knife in public.”

The operation was part of the Knife Angel initiative and Operation Sceptre, with the Kinfe Angel sculpture having been on display in Sandwell since the beginning of October.

The sculpture is regarded as the national symbol of the impact of knife crime and is made of over 100,000 surrendered blunted knives.

It tours cities and towns across the UK and will leave Sandwell on Thursday, November 28.

Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, said: “Knife-related crime is a concern across the UK, and it is important that we do all we can here in Sandwell to make sure people choose life, not knife.

“Most people do not carry knives; most young people do not carry knives.

“But we need anyone who does, or is tempted to carry a knife, to turn their back on a choice that could cost their or another person’s life. 

“This thought-provoking Knife Angel is a reminder of the real and tragic consequences of knife crime and will hopefully start conversations within families, among friends and in the community.”