The knives were sold to police cadets taking part in a council-organised test purchasing operation during Knife Crime Awareness Week

One of the seized knives (credit Enfield Council) — The knives sold to the kids (credit Enfield Council)

A shop owner in Enfield Town has been fined more than £11,000 after his sales assistant sold a seven-piece knife set to a boy and a girl aged just 14.

Enfield Council’s trading standards team carried out an underage test purchase operation Value 4 Money in Church Street using police cadets last May, during ‘Knife Crime Awareness Week’.

Two police cadet volunteers were told by council officers to carry out test purchases, to answer any questions about their age truthfully and to say that they did not have any ID if asked. But the sales assistant at Value 4 Money did not challenge the boy about his age when he paid for the knives and later acknowledged making the sale.

It is illegal for shops to sell bladed articles, including knives, to people under the age of 18.

Business owner Mohammad Hafiz Scandari, from Luton, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on 19th February, when he pleaded guilty on behalf of his company Homix Enterprise Limited. On Thursday, 12th March, Scandari attended court again and was ordered to pay a fine of £8,333, costs of £1,350, and a victim surcharge of £2,000, meaning he must pay a total of £11,683.

Susan Erbil, the council’s cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said: “This serious case serves as a reminder to retailers they must obey the law and ensure age-restricted products are not sold to children.

“The council’s test purchasing exercise was carried out during the annual Knife Crime Awareness Week, to help raise awareness of the devastating impact knife crime has on young lives.

“We will continue to take the strongest possible action against those who break the law to protect our young people for a safer Enfield.”

Test purchases were also attempted at two other premises in Enfield Town as part of the operation, and both refused the sale.

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