THAMES Valley Police has worked with partner agencies to reduce knife crime in its biannual week of action.
Operation Sceptre sees TVP teaming with the Public Protection Partnership to focus on continuing to reduce knife crime, through education, prevention, and enforcement.
The Public Protection Partnership’s Trading Standards Officers are responsible for enforcing the law prohibiting the sales of certain age-restricted products.
It conducts regular exercises and inspections to check that age restricted products are not sold to people below the legal age.
It sees the recruitment and training of under-age volunteers who undertake the purchases under the supervision of Trading Standards Officers.
Last Week, 15 businesses around West Berkshire, Wokingham, and Bracknell were visited, with two attempted sales proving successful.
Both have now been put forward for review.
Organisations face a range of fines from £500 to £1 million, with fines linked to turnover to make penalties proportionate to the size of the organisation; organisations cannot be sentenced to custody or community orders.
Individuals face a range of non-custodial sentences, from a discharge to a high-level community order or fine.
Councillor Tom McCann, the Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee said: “I commend the excellent joint work between our Trading Standards team and Thames Valley Police during Operation Sceptre.
“The successful test purchases by underage volunteers highlight the importance of our continued efforts to prevent the sale of knives to young people.
“This operation sends a clear message that we will take robust action against retailers who fail to comply with the law, helping to keep our communities safe.
“I would like to pass on thanks to our young volunteers and our staff who assist us in our work to reduce sales of restricted items to those under age.
“I would urge businesses that are unsure of the requirements to contact the Trading Standards Team for advice.”
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP) is a shared service delivering Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards to people and businesses on behalf of Bracknell Forest Council, and West Berkshire Council.
