Islington shop in trouble over under-age knife sale

Traders in Islington are being urged to check identification when selling knives after a shop was prosecuted for making an underage sale.

A 16-year-old was sold a pack of five kitchen knives by a member of staff at Mass General Store, 415-416 Holloway Road, who failed to check the girl's age.

The teenager was taking part in a test-purchasing exercise organised by Islington Council's trading standards team on February 5 2011.  The minimum legal age for knife sales is 18.

On Tuesday January 17 2012, shop owner Farhad Zarei was found guilty at Highbury Magistrates' Court of supplying knives to a person under 18-years-old, an offence under the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Cllr Barbara Sidnell, Islington Council's executive member for community safety, said: "We're on the side of residents and determined to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Tragically, knives in the wrong hands can be deadly and we will take action against shops that break the law.

"I urge all shops to ask for identification if they are in doubt about a customer's age, and to ring the council if they want advice on avoiding underage sales.  We'd much prefer to explain the law than have to go to court."

Mr Zarei was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 towards the council's costs.