Slough Borough Council’s trading standards has successfully prosecuted a shop owner for £811 for selling a pack of four knives to a minor.
Husband and wife, Bhopinder and Baljit Takhar, former owners of the Saver Centre, Farnham Road, Slough sold the age-restricted product on March 21, 2009 to a 15 year old during a trading standard’s test purchasing exercise.
The Slough case, which was heard at Maidenhead Magistrates Court on Friday, October 9, found Mrs Takhar guilty and ordered to pay £100 in fines, as well as £15 victim surcharge and £696.27 costs.
The two defendants do not work or own the company any more.
Knives can only be sold to people over the age of 18, and proof of identity cards must be asked for if shop assistants are in any doubt. No ID, no purchase.
Angela Satterly, trading standards officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to making Slough a safe place to live and work and it’s everybody’s responsibility to make sure young people under the age of 18 are not sold potentially harmful items.
“We’re very pleased with the court case outcome, but are still urging shop owners to be vigilant when selling age restricted products and asking for proof of ID.”
Commissioner for Slough community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, added: “Well done to the team for bringing this case to court.
“It’s a scary prospect to think that someone as young as 15 can buy a knife. We should endeavour to reduce the risks associated with knives both through reducing young people’s ability to purchase dangerous weapons, and also through educating them as to the dangers.”
Slough Borough Council
