42-43 FFT Knife sales.qxp_Grid 23/10/2019 17:21 Page 1
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Tragically knife crime never seems to be far from media headlines, and this is impacting on the housewares industry in various ways. The law is changing for online knives retailers, and test purchasers are checking on retailers’ compliance both in stores and online. Moreover, knives suppliers are considering investing in solutions for the safe and responsible sale of knives. PH hears some of the industry’s comments.
KNIVES We do not sell knives to anyone under the age of 18. IT IS ILLEGAL If you look under 25, we will ask for proof of age.
What all knives stockists need to know It has been an eventful year surrounding the sale of knives. PH recaps some of the key happenings: l Earlier this year The Offensive Weapons Bill 2019 received the Royal Assent becoming The Offensive Weapons Act 2019. The Act contained crucial amendments to the Bill’s original proposal for all knives to be banned from delivery to residential addresses. It now allows delivery to residential addresses under restrictions. Firstly, the retailer has systems in place to check the purchaser is 18 or over. Secondly, knives delivered to a residential address must be made by a recognised age verification delivery service. l The Act underwent a public consultation, which ended on October 9. It will become law on the Home Office’s confirmation. BHETA’s taskforce of leading knife retailers and suppliers submitted comments to the consultation, for example, querying the new addition of cutlery and scissors in part of the Act.
l Meanwhile, BHETA is encouraging knife retailers to embrace the ‘Challenge 25’ strategy to prevent underage sales in store. Suppliers will be able to use the Challenge 25 graphics on packaging. l The Metropolitan police, Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) and London Trading Standards (LTS) recently launched a toolkit for knives’ retailers (following input from Bira and its members as well as BHETA). The toolkit includes a series of short training modules that are designed for everyone involved in the sale or delivery of knives including managers, retail staff and delivery drivers (see https://nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance) * See other developments in knife display and ‘safer’ design on pages 36-37.
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Above: Knife crime is reported as ‘an epidimic’. Below: Alastair Fisher of knives manufacturer and distributor, Taylor’s Eye Witness spearheaded the campaign to amend the original Bill that would have banned all knives deliveries to residential addresses. Alastair is currently BHETA president and a member of the BHETA taskforce for the responsible sale of knives. Left: Signage for retailers - part of a toolkit.
“The problem is not with knives themselves” Alastair Fisher, joint managing director, Taylor’s Eye Witness acknowledges: “Everyone in the kitchenware industry is horrified to see our products being misused in such a terrible way. The law has to be brought up to date with the growth of online retail, but with the added costs, it will make selling knives online more difficult for smaller players. Online retailers need to get systems in place to be ready for when the Offensive Weapons Act becomes law and ensure knives that they sell never get into the hands of anyone who is under 18. Trading Standards will be looking to prosecute