Dangerous knives and replica firearms on sale in Bradford

4.07.23pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 8th Dec 2005

Councillor David Ward has asked Trading Standards to investigate a display of knives and replica firearms on sale at a shop in Sunbridge Road, Bradford.

He said,

' I was horrified when I saw the display which includes knives which can only be used as offensive weapons. They certainly would be no use in the kitchen or for DIY. There is also an air gun and an air rifle and a very convincing replica firearm.

I did a bit of research and discovered it is an offence to 'sell to children under sixteen years old: any knife, knife blade or razor blade, or any axe, or any article which has a blade, or which is sharply pointed and which is made or adapted for causing injury to the person. '

This must mean that it may be legal to sell to someone who is older which I find appalling.

It is also against the law to market a knife in a way which ' indicates or suggests that it is suitable for combat, or is likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour.'

Apparently ' suitable for combat ' means that the knife is suitable for use as a weapon for inflicting injury or causing fear of injury to the person. As a lay person I think that these knives fall into this category just be being in the window of the shop.

Replica fire arms can apparently be bought but carrying one in a public place without permission is an offence . That means that as soon as you carry it out of the shop you are breaking the law

There is a bill currently going through Parliament which certainly improves things but a Lib Dem amendment to equalise the maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment for carrying a knife with that for carrying a gun was defeated even though both are lethal weapons.

If Trading Standards judge that anything in the display in Sunbridge Road would be illegal under the new bill, I think that the owner of the premises should behave responsibly and immediately take action to comply with the proposed rules.