Traders caught selling knives to children in Rotherham

Five traders in Rotherham were caught selling knives to underage children in an operation in the town.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Sep 2018, 10:37 BST
Updated 19th Sep 2018, 21:51 BST
Teenagers were sold knives in RotherhamTeenagers were sold knives in Rotherham
Teenagers were sold knives in Rotherham

South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham Council's trading standards unit ran a test purchase operation in the town yesterday using two underage volunteers.

CRIME: Police make multiple finds during knife-crime crackdown in Sheffield suburb

Teenagers were sold knives in RotherhamTeenagers were sold knives in Rotherham
Teenagers were sold knives in Rotherham
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Organised as part of Operation Sceptre - a week-long crackdown on knife crime - children were sent into shops and to market stalls to try to buy a blade while police and trading standards officers assessed whether anyone checked their ages.

CAMPAIGN: 'Knife crime is tearing our communities apart' - Sheffield MPs back our Drop The Knife campaign

Five failed the test.

POLICE: 'You are three times more likely to be stabbed if you carry a knife,' warns top Sheffield cop 

South Yorkshire Police said the operation was aimed at '˜testing the resilience and ethical behaviour of shops or stalls selling knives'.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The force said the '˜vast majority of shops are completely law abiding' and that the operation was aimed at '˜making Rotherham safer'.

Operation Sceptre is a national initiative in response to an increase in knife crime offences.

There were 1,008 offences recorded in South Yorkshire last year - up 126 on the year before.

Police chiefs said raids will be carried out and knife arches will be used to try to find those walking the streets armed.

Extra police patrols have also been ordered in communities affected by knife crime.

Related topics:TradersRotherhamSouth Yorkshire PoliceRotherham CouncilPoliceCrime