Restrictions urged on knife sales

A 15-year-old girl bought the knives unchallenged by shop clerks

Calls for tougher restrictions on the sale of knives to young people have been welcomed by trading standards officers in Northamptonshire.

The plea for a campaign to prevent underage sales has come from the Trading Standards Institute after the death of 14-year-old Luke Walmsley, who was stabbed at a school in Lincolnshire on Tuesday.

Trading standards officers carried out a purchase experiment in Northamptonshire last week, in which a 15-year-old girl bought six knives from DIY and department stores.

Her purchases included a long kitchen carving knife and a meat cleaver.

Officers said only one shop clerk asked the teenager for identification, but did not challenge her any further when she claimed to have none.

A national survey conducted by the institute showed that 45% of retailers were prepared to sell knives to young people under the age of 16.

The county's Trading Standards Service is endorsing a national initiative to restrict sales of knives to people over 18 with a government-issued proof-of-age card, and for internet retailers to require credit card payment for restricted items.

Officers said it was also hoped the government would outlaw "novelty" proof of age cards sold on the internet.