The sale of knives online to underage persons

[boatbuilder]

Did anybody see 'The Kyle Files' on Thursday evening on ITV?

In the light of all the knife crime these days, Jeremy Kyle was drawing attention to how easy it is for those under the age of 18 to purchase knives and similar weapons online.

In the program a 16 year-old girl was used to see how easy it was to purchase anything from knives to machetes online without being asked for proof of age. She was able to purchase several items inside less than an hour and these were delivered to her home, presumably by post or carrier.

Jeremy Kyle approached one of the firms who supplied the weapons, accompanied by a woman whose son was murdered at a house party a couple of years ago by stabbing. The person they encountered at the firm wasn't interested in discussing the matter and more or less threw them out and locked the doors, despite telling him (possibly he was the owner) the reason the woman was there.

With an attitude like that, what do you believe can be done to stop these sales?

[George]

Knives are very easy to obtain, just go to the knife draw in any kitchen, or toolbox in any shed.
One the positive side (not there are many with knife crime), this type of crime has been on the decline for several years https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 12.pdf.pdf

[boatbuilder]

You never said if you saw the program or not, George. A lot of those weapons/knives would never be found in a kitchen drawer or everyday toolbox.

[George]

No I didn't see the program. Guess there were people selling hunting type weapons?
Apart from banning the sale of these goods, and with it stopping legitimate sales, what could be done to prove the age of the purchaser?

[boatbuilder]

Some of these weren't hunting weapons George, but more like combat weapons. It might be worth you having a look at the program if it's available on ITV player. Maybe it SHOULD be made illegal to sell such things online. If people really have to have those things then maybe they should have to buy in person, not anonymously.

[George]

Won't be watching, however, if we were to ban the sale of knives on line, what other things would be banned?
Drink, over 18 films, over 18 video games,spray paint, lottery tickets, fireworks....would you want to ban on line sales of these products as well?
Why should apprentice chefs be stopped from taking advantage of better online prices?, or apprentice fish mongers ?
Once we go down the road of banning there are always unintended consequences.

[boatbuilder]

I think you have to draw the line somewhere and it could well be applied to at least some of those things you mentioned if the legal age for buying them is 18 or whatever it may be. If there is no way for the seller being 100% satisfied as to the buyer's age then they should not be able to sell them that way. Well I've given my thoughts on the matter, perhaps some of the other members would like to offer theirs as I have no more to offer on this one - it was, after all, supposed to be about knives - dangerous weapons in the wrong hands - and if there is no way of proving the buyer's age then as far as I am concerned they should not be sold that way. If you think otherwise George, then of course that is your prerogative to do so but I'm afraid I can't agree. I noticed that you never actually answered the question that concluded the opening post of the topic. Sounds a bit an like an evasive politician -they never seem to answer a direct question with a straight answer.

[George]

Without anyway of confirming the buyers age, then the only alternative is to ban the sale of knives and all other are restricted goods.
Will that work in practice?, of course not.
If it has not practical effect, then whats the point of a ban?

[frankiesays]

I think with products such as BB has described there needs to be a face-to-face sale in which the buyer has to show proof of age just the same as they do for fags and drink, etc. There are some things that just can't be sold online.

[George]

I think with products such as BB has described there needs to be a face-to-face sale in which the buyer has to show proof of age just the same as they do for fags and drink, etc. There are some things that just can't be sold online.

Hmmm not sure that is correct Frankie
https://dutyfreewarehouse.co.uk/
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/jsp/homepa ... d67a4000.0

[boatbuilder]

I wonder if this was bought online?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gl ... e-30965046