4 mins from Croydon stab scene teens can still allowed to buy knives with no ID
Kids are still free to buy knives just yards from the spot where Elianne Andam was stabbed to death.
Two stores sold a 17-year-old eight blades less than 48 hours after the killing. It is illegal to sell sharp objects to under-18s – but there were no ID checks. Croydon DIY handed our volunteer, Uva, a box of five kitchen knives with no questions asked. And she picked up a three-pack of serrated blades from nearby Luxury Homes. The shopkeeper asked Ula for proof of age but then changed his mind, saying: “You look at least 18.” Two other stores did carry out age checks.
Uva with two sets of knives she bought without being challenged (Phil Harris)
She was able to buy the knives close to where a teen was stabbed to death earlier this week (Phil Harris)George Kinsella, whose son Ben, 16, was stabbed in a senseless attack 15 years ago, said: “Following the tragic events of this week, it is shocking to discover some shops in Croydon are willing to sell knives to teenagers. Illegally selling a knife to an underage person is not a trivial offence. These rogue retailers are putting lives at risk and must be held to account.”
Our probe comes as police recorded 50,489 knife offences in the year to March, up 5%. Knife crime in England and Wales has surged 75% since March 2013. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We need urgent action to stop these dangerous knife sales to children but the Government isn’t getting a grip.”
Labour’s Croydon Central MP Sarah Jones added: “It is unacceptable a 17-year-old has been allowed to buy knives so freely. Our community is pulling together to fight knife crime but we can’t do it with one hand tied behind our back.” Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, who leads policing in Croydon, said: “This is worrying. We work with the council to ensure business owners are clear on their responsibilities and will be following up to enhance these efforts.” Asked for comment, Croydon DIY said: “My mind had a blip, I forgot the age limit.” Luxury Homes said: “She had some piercings so I thought she must be 18.” The Home Office said: “Knife crime tears families apart. We are comm-itted to addressing the root causes.”
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A Home Office spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with Elianne’s family after this tragic incident. Knife crime tears families apart, and we are committed to addressing the root causes of this violence. In 2022 our Violence Reduction Units reached over 215,000 vulnerable young people, and through our investment in the Youth Endowment Fund, 117,000 young people have been supported to escape violence since 2019. We are also strengthening enforcement by banning the zombie-style knives increasingly used for serious crime and violence and giving the police more powers to seize these dangerous weapons.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “My thoughts remain with Elianne’s family and friends, and the whole community in Croydon, at this unimaginably awful time. I am committed to driving down violence and building a safer London for everyone by being tough on violent crime and tough on its complex causes. Businesses and retailers must play their part too and be extra vigilant when selling knives and other sharp objects, particularly to minors.
“Retailers really have no excuse as the Knife Retailer Toolkit provides wide-ranging guidance to shop owners including advice on when to challenge and check someone for ID, and when to call the police. The police and Trading Standards will continue to ensure businesses follow the rules.”
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