NINE stores across Basingstoke have failed test purchase operations carried out by police.

Officers from the Basingstoke Safer Neighbourhoods Team carried out 22 test purchase operations as part of a week of action against knife crime.

Out of these stores, nine were caught selling knives to a person under the age of 18.

The test purchases formed part of Operation Sceptre, a nationwide campaign through which we are working to keep knives off the streets and educate people about the dangers associated with knife crime.

The aim was to send police cadets into the stores in an attempt to buy the bladed articles in view of plain-clothed officers at stores across Basingstoke.

Sergeant Oli Battersby said: “It is completely unacceptable that a child as young as 14 can walk into a shop and buy a knife without any questions being asked.

“We are working hard to reduce knife crime but we need the support of the communities we protect.

“This may be through providing information about people who carry knives, or, as in this case, by not selling knives to children.”

It is an offence under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to sell knives to a person aged under 18 years old.

The staff member and manager of the stores that failed the test purchase operation will be requested to attend an awareness course with the police.

As well as the test purchase operation, police also opened a knife amnesty bin at the Northern Police Investigation Centre in Jays Close, Viables.

A total of 40 bladed articles, including knives, machetes and swords were handed in between Monday, July 17 and Sunday, July 23.