Rural East Devon Op Sceptre Test Purchase

The Rural East Devon Neighbourhood Team, working with the Devon and Cornwall Police Cadets, co-ordinated a test purchase operation as part of Op Sceptre - a national initiative aimed at tackling knife crime and serious violence. This latest Op Sceptre ran from 18th - 24th May and focussed on the sale of knives and bladed items within retail premises.

The law states that you must be 18 or over to buy a knife or bladed article (with some exceptions) and retailers should apply their existing policies for age-restricted sales, such as Challenge 25, to ensure age verification checks take place, so that knives will only be sold where the retailer is satisfied that the customer is 18 or over.

Seven stores were visited across Axminster, Honiton, Seaton and Sidmouth. Two of our police cadets visited each business and attempted to buy a knife or bladed article. They were accompanied in store by an officer in plain clothes.

Out of the seven stores visited, only one store failed to apply the proper age verification checks.

The Rural East Devon Neighbourhood Team would like to thank the cadets that took part for their enthusiasm and engagement and we have committed to working with them on similar operations in the future.