Co-op ends knife sales

Sep 23 2008

RETAIL chain Co-op, which sells alcohol and cigarettes in Coventry, Warwickshire and south Leicestershire to those who look under 25 only if they have identification, has announced it has stopped selling knives in some of its food stores.

The Heart of England Co-operative Society has removed all knives from its 33 food shops and will refuse to sell them at its non-food stores - under the same proof of identity scheme - to anyone who cannot prove that they are over 18, if they look under 25.

A spokeswoman for the stores said: "It is believed they are the first retailer to adopt such a rigorous policy."

The move to extend the policy to knives as well responded to rising fears about teenage knife crimes nationwide, she said.

Ali Kurji, chief executive of the Heart of England Co-operative Society, said: "We hope that this scheme helps prevent knives falling into the wrong hands.

"The law says that only over-18s can buy knives, alcohol or cigarettes.

"We have a moral, social and legal responsibility to ensure that the law is observed, and have introduced this policy to remove the possibility of under-18s tricking our staff into selling them knives."