Worker at VIP Plastic Housewares told boy, 14, to use blade to open boxes only
A Neasden company has been successfully prosecuted after one of its workers sold a knife to an underage schoolboy advising him to only use it to open boxes.
VIP Plastic Housewares in Neasden Lane, was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £1,207 costs after it admitted the illegal sale which took place in June last year.
Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard two 14-year-old boys were carrying out a test purchase on behalf of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service (BHTSS) when one was sold the utility knife.
Despite the boys telling the worker their ages when asked, one was still sold the knife and advised to use it for opening boxes only.
It is against the law to sell a bladed item to anyone under the age of 18.
Officers from BHTSS later discovered the worker had received no training on age-restricted sales.
The company that operated the business, KMS Express Limited, was represented in court by its director Kashif Mukhtar who entered a guilty plea on behalf of the company.
Bill Bilon, head of BHTSS, said: “This kind of offending is exactly the reason why the Trading Standards Service conducts test purchasing exercises such as the one that resulted in this sale.
“Traders who sell age restricted goods must ensure that they have systems in place to avoid such sales being made to children.”
BHTSS runs a Responsible Trader Scheme for businesses in both boroughs that sell products governed by age restrictions for more details call 020 8937 5555 or visit www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/brent&harrow/
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