Policy paper

Sale of knives: voluntary agreement by retailers

Voluntary agreement with major retailers on a set of principles to prevent the underage sale of knives in their stores and through their websites.

From:
Home Office
Published
23 March 2016
Last updated
2310 MarchJuly 20232024 — See all updates

Documents

Sale of knives: voluntary agreement by retailers

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Details

The retailers have agreed to follow the principles outlined in the agreement to:

  • prevent the sale of knives to under 18s
  • ensure that knives are safely displayed and packaged

This document is a revised version of the initial voluntary agreement published in March 2016. This revised version includes stronger commitments in relation to display of knives.

The government will work with the British Retail Consortium to extend this agreement to other retailers.

Published 23 March 2016
Last updated 2310 MarchJuly 20232024 + show all updates

  1. ProCook added to list of retailers who are signatories to the voluntary agreement.

  2. Iceland Foods Ltd has been added to the list of retailers who are signatories to the voluntary agreement.

  3. Document revised to include stronger commitments in relation to display of knives.

  4. List of retailers updated to include Debenhams who signed up to the agreement in February 2018.

  5. List of retailers updated to include TK Maxx, who signed up to the agreement on 9 February 2017.

  6. Updated to reflect the following changes: On 22 December 2016 Boots, Aldi, Co-op and B&Q joined the other retailers which joined on 23 March 2016. As of 22 December the government agreed to introduce legislation to extend the Primary Authority scheme to knives as soon as Parliamentary time allows. The government has also met with the British Retail Consortium to discuss the Trust Elevate age verification tool.

  7. Updated list of retailers who have signed up to the voluntary agreement.