News Maidstone Borough Council cracks down on knife sales as part of Operation Sceptre

On Friday 21 November, Maidstone Borough Council’s Community Protection Team carried out knife sale compliance checks at retailers across the borough as part of Operation Sceptre, a national initiative to tackle knife crime and keep communities safe.

The team visited 35 businesses, offering advice to nine retailers where improvements were needed to ensure compliance with laws governing the sale of knives.

Community Protection Officer Laura Wallace said: “We were pleased to see that the vast majority of retailers take their responsibilities seriously, operating a ‘Think 25’ policy to prevent bladed articles getting into the wrong hands. Many also ensure knives are security tagged and monitored under CCTV.

“However, we did identify several shops that could improve their compliance. We’ve issued advice and will revisit to check progress.

“Bladed items should never be displayed in areas out of sight or away from CCTV, and retailers must make every effort to prevent theft. Staff training is essential, employees should challenge anyone they suspect is under 18 and ask for ID, ideally following the ‘Think 25’ approach.

“Ultimately, our goal is simple: to stop knives getting into the wrong hands and keep Maidstone a safe place for everyone.”

Councillor David Naghi, Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Safety, added: ““Some young people carry a knife because they think ‘everyone else does’ but that’s simply not true. In fact, 99% of young people in the UK do not carry a knife.

“Carrying a knife doesn’t make you safer; it makes you more likely to get hurt and more likely to enter the criminal justice system for possessing a weapon. We are committed to doing everything possible to keep knives off Maidstone’s streets and protect our community.”

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