Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Last Friday (22 May), Lancaster Police teamed up with Trading Standards to tackle the sale of knives and other bladed items to underage buyers.
In total, the teams and volunteer underage buyers visited 14 stores across the city, all of whom passed, refusing to sell a bladed item to an underage buyer.
This activity was undertaken as part of Sceptre, a national campaign tackling knife crime through enforcement, prevention, education and community engagement. The week of action is led by Lancashire’s Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), part of the Office of the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and works under Commissioner Clive Grunshaw to bring together organisations across local communities to tackle the underlying causes that contribute to serious violent crime.
Violence Reduction Network Sergeant, Dan Whitaker, said: “I’m pleased to see that all premises visited acted responsibly and refused to sell a knife to our underage volunteer.
“This is a very positive outcome and reflects the commitment of local businesses across Lancaster to help keep our communities safe. Preventing young people from accessing knives is a key part of tackling serious violence, and retailers play a crucial role in that effort. We will continue to work closely with our colleagues in Lancashire County Councils Trading Standards team to support businesses and ensure these high standards are maintained.”
Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities at Lancashire County Council said:
“Hard-hitting operations like Sceptre show the strength of joint working between our Trading Standards team and the police to tackle knife crime head-on and hold offenders to account.
"The impact of knife crime on families and communities can be devastating. Stopping young people from accessing knives must remain a priority, and it is extremely worrying that some retailers were prepared to sell to underage customers.
“The partnership play a vital role in protecting the public, and we will continue to work to keep Lancashire’s communities safe, particularly young people."
Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, said:
“Knife crime isn’t an issue policing can solve in isolation. Stopping the sale and supply of knives solely intended to harm, along with supply to young people is an issue we can only address by working in partnership. It's encouraging to see the proactive work of the Trading Standards Team and local officers in tackling this issue at its source.
“Tackling knife crime is about much more than seizing knives and making arrests. Through my Violence Reduction Network, I will continue to champion initiatives that prevent and intervene in serious violence, helping to make Lancashire a safer place for everyone.”
If you have any information about knife crime in your area, call 101 or report anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.