Safe Retailing Hub

The latest information for retailers who sell knives and dangerous substances.

knives-dangerous-substances

knives-and-dangerous-substances

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.

The issues

Knives and Blades:

The former Home Secretary radically stepped up the Government's response to knife crime and has implemented new orders, under the Offensive Weapons Act, to prevent criminals from carrying blades. Our aim is to make sure that changes to the laws are fair and practical for retailers. We recognise the dangers and horrible consequences of knife crime, but it's unfair to suggest that the fault resides with retailers selling knives illegally and irresponsibly.

We also want to ensure that online restrictions on the sales of knives to those under 18s are being enforced and prosecuted in the same way that bricks and mortar retailers are.

There is also no guidance on how the Government plan on preventing the sales of knives and bladed items from abroad from getting into the wrong hands.

Acid Sales:

Hardware stores legitimately sell corrosive substances and the Government must be careful not to impact on general and legitimate business transactions. There has been some confusion on the change in law, however and who and who can’t be sold an acid-based product. Our main issue lies with the way the new law is being enforced. As the enforcement is down to local authorities, we need there to be a fair system in place for tackling the issue. We also need to prevent the sale of acid-based products online and ensure they are getting the same level of prosecution as bricks and mortar retailers.

shutterstock 1471442903

Our Solutions

Knives and Blades:

Bira would like clarification on how the new law might affect the import of knives purchased online form non-UK retailers and how this is going to be monitored.
Bira is committed to the retailers' code of practice with regard to the sales of knives and hazardous substances. We will continue to support members with any changes that the Offensive Weapons Bill brings about. We will continue to remind retailers to treat knife sales in the same way we handle alcohol, implementing a Challenge 21 system and no ID, no sale.
Online retailers should be test-purchased and prosecuted in the same way that bricks and mortar retailers have been, but only once the law is in place and well-promoted to retailers.

Acid Sales:

We’d like to see more guidelines, education and training for retailers and consumers on the changes to the rules for selling these substances.
We need retailers to support with their obligation of reporting suspicious transactions, significant losses or thefts, so that the process doesn’t impact on general and legitimate business transactions.
More protection for employees when confronted by customers they have refused to serve.
Enforcement must be just as robust for online sales as it is for bricks and mortar.