New crackdown on Derbyshire shops selling knives to young people

Police are working with shopkeepers to prevent the sale of knives to young people as part of a new national campaign.
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Safer Neighbourhood teams (SNT) across the county have been visiting shops and delivering posters and a guide to selling, storing and displaying knives.

The work is being undertaken as part of Project Zao, a campaign to reduce knife crime in Derbyshire, and Operation Sceptre, a national week of intensification in the fight against knife crime.

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Derbyshire police officers are working with shops to reduce the sale of knives to young people.Derbyshire police officers are working with shops to reduce the sale of knives to young people.
Derbyshire police officers are working with shops to reduce the sale of knives to young people.

On Wednesday, April 28, officers from Matlock SNT, visited shops in the town, delivered the leaflets and had a conversation to ensure store staff were aware of their legal implications.

It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone who is under the age of 18.

Officers describe Project Zao as a mixture of ‘education, enforcement and prevention’.

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A Derbyshire police spokesperson said: “This action is educational, reminding shopkeepers of their legal obligations in terms of sales to young people, however we will not hesitate to take action with our partners in trading standards to take action if we suspect that these obligations are not being fulfilled.”

If you are a shopkeeper and have not yet received your pack of information about the campaign and would like to receive one, contact Derbyshire police on 101 or your local SNT.

You can also visit the force’s website or contact them via social media.