POLICE have praised business owners across the county for challenging children who attempt to purchase knives from their shops.

Sussex Police have been sending youngsters into shops to try and buy knives for the last two years as part of a police operation.

Operation Safety has been run in Crawley since April last year as part of their fight against knife crime.

In Sussex, the rate of offences involving a knife or sharp incident has more than doubled from between zero and 27 offences per 100,000 in 2010/11, to between 50 and 77 per 100,000 people in 2020/21.

In April 2021, 10 shops were visited with two failing to challenge children trying to buy knives. In August 2021, nine shops were visited with three failing.

In November 2021, 11 shops were visited which all passed. While the most recent inspection on February 5 saw 11 shops visited, including the ones which had failed previously, with all shops passing.

Sergeant Scott Walters, of the operation safety team, said: “It is a great achievement that retailers in the Crawley area are taking responsibility around age-related products seriously and are consistently challenging our police cadets who attempt to buy knives under our supervision.

“This success is not limited to Crawley, we are also seeing similar trends in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Horsham, Worthing and Mid Sussex.

The Argus: The force has been targeting towns across SussexThe force has been targeting towns across Sussex (Image: Stock)

“It is vital that this trend continues in order for everyone – not just under 18s – to realise the devastating consequences knife crime can have.”

The penalty for selling a knife to a child can be anything from an unlimited fine to six months’ imprisonment. This includes online retailers.

The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and an unlimited fine. Anyone convicted of carrying a knife more than once will face a prison term.

Sussex Police recently arrested a 16-year-old boy who was given a football banning order, a youth referral order and ordered to pay £62 after he was found with a knife, knuckle duster and flare before Brighton played Crystal Palace on January 14.

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