There were 50,500 police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the year ending March 2023 and 590 homicides in total recorded in the year ending March 2023, 244 of these involved a knife or other sharp instrument. 

It is illegal for shops in England and Wales to sell knives with a fixed blade of more than three inches long to anyone under the age of 18, however sales of knives to people under the legal age continues to be an issue for retail. 

Research has shown that far too many knives are being sold illegally - 160 illegal sales were made to children in London in a 12 month period. These sales are often made by retailers who lack knowledge or confidence when it comes to selling age-restricted products. 

It’s essential that retailers who sell knives, whether they are small independents or national chains, online or traditional high street stores, take positive action to help tackle knife crime by reducing the availability of knives to those intent on criminal activity. Many retailers have already adopted the Home Office voluntary agreement on the sale of knives. 

In a collaboration between the NBCC, Metropolitan Police Service, Mayors Office for Policing and Crime and Trading standards bodies, a set of training modules for retail staff was created to help stop underage sale as well as theft of knives. These packages are published nationally on the NBCC website along with the Knife Retailer Toolkit and Knife Guidance. 

There are also posters which can be downloaded to display in store and U25 stickers which can be used on knife packaging to remind staff and customers that anybody trying to purchase a knife who appears under 25 will be required to provide proof of age.