Waterloo shop owners ordered to pay almost £7,000 after knife is sold to 15-year-old boy

Owners of a shop have been ordered to pay nearly £7,000 after a member of staff sold a knife to a 15-year-old boy.

A worker at Ian Allan Book and Model Shop, in Waterloo, sold the knife on July 20 last year during a test operation by trading standards officers with Lambeth council.

The sales assistant failed to ask for ID for the knife, which was part of a model maker’s tool kit.

Camberwell Magistrates’ court heard how council officers discovered the company had not taken steps which could have prevented the sale, such as staff training and the introduction of a policy to challenge the age of anyone who appears under 25.

Ian Allan Publishing Ltd pleaded guilty to selling the weapon at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on January 10.

In mitigation, the shop’s lawyer told the court that measures had been taken following the incident to prevent any other age-restricted goods being sold.

The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,460, as well as a victim surcharge of £181.

Councillor Paul Gadsby, Lambeth council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “I find it extraordinary given the publicity surrounding young people and knife crime that traders are still selling knives to those below the legal age of 18.

“I am grateful that our officers are taking tough action against these businesses and I hope this case sends a strong message to all retailers in our borough – that they have a major part to play in protecting our community and reducing serious crime.”

The shop specialises in “current, historical and nostalgic information about railways, aviation, buses and military and local history”.