Messages from Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team to local businesses about underage sales are getting through after new sting reveals great results.
During a test purchasing exercise by Slough trading standards officer, only one out of six premises sold an aerosol spray paint to underage volunteer purchasers.
The volunteers entered motor part shops and hardware stores in the borough with the intention of purchasing cans of spray paint.
Of the six stores visited, one visit resulted in a sale, with the other five stores refusing to sell the aerosol spray paint to the young volunteers.
The age restriction for purchase of such spray paints is 16, and to sell to any person under this is an offence under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
Selling aerosol spray paints to underage children has a number of consequences, the most evident being anti-social behaviour in the form of graffiti.
Dean Cooke, trading standards officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “Trading standards has spent the last few months visiting premises in the area, distributing training packs and making traders fully aware of age restricted products and the legislation controlling their supply.
“Whilst the majority of traders are heeding our advice, some persist in selling to underage children so we need to continue our drive to make traders aware of legislation.
“The trading standards team at Slough Borough Council work hard to warn businesses that such breaches of legislation will be exposed.
“We want to prevent sales of restricted items such as these spray paints by building relationships with traders to ensure they are aware of their rights and responsibilities."
Investigation into the shop that sold the restricted product is ongoing. The owner will be interviewed under caution, and may receive a caution or face prosecution.
Slough Borough Council
