Online knife sale ban plea

The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) is calling for a ban on the sale of knives online, after 80 per cent of online retailers were found to be selling knives to under-18s.

The law states that it is illegal to sell a knife or bladed object to anyone under the age of 18, with businesses and staff facing a £5,000 fine or six months in prison for doing so.

A recent survey, carried out by the TSI, found that 214 out of 835 stores tested across England and Wales sold knives to children under 18.

The problem is worse online, as TSI surveys revealed that 58 of the 72 websites selling knives were prepared to sell to children under the age of 18. The surveys were carried out in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Greenwich, as well as in Staffordshire, Salford and Cardiff.

Alex Cook, the 15-year-old son of Brandon Cook, TSI lead officer for tackling underage sales, was able to buy four knives in one hour, including a machete, with his debit card.

"It was too easy. Anyone can do it, because a lot of people are used to buying things online," said Alex.

The ban is being backed by the campaign groups Mothers Against Knives and KnifeCrimes.org – both set up by mothers who have lost children to knife crime.

"As a mother who knows the pain of losing a child, if one life was saved by a ban on the internet sale of knives, it would be worthwhile," said Ann Oakes-Odger, founder of KnifeCrimes.org.

eBay banned the sale of knives to surfers in the UK in February this year.