There were 46,950 police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the 12 months to September 2021 and in 2020/21 there were 235 murders involving a knife or other sharp instrument in England and Wales. 

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.