Knife Sales Test Purchase Operation

Knife Sales Test Purchase Operation

On Sunday 4th and Saturday 10th October 2026, Wakefield District Police Licensing team, along with Wakefield District Policing Cadets, and alongside Wakefield Council Community Safety Partnership, conducted a knife test purchasing operation throughout Wakefield district as part of the local campaign to reduce knife enabled crime and keep our neighbourhoods safe.

Under the supervision of Police officers, a Police cadet was authorised to enter retail premises to try and buy a knife that someone of their own age group might attempt to buy.  This was to ensure that the shops in our town and city centres have robust age verification policies, point of sale prompts and staff training in place to prevent young people from being able to buy knives.  It is a criminal offence to sell a bladed or sharply point article to a person under the age of 18.

Of the 24 shops visited throughout the two days, the Police cadets made two successful test purchases. Police criminal investigations have now been commenced in relation to the sale of those knives. During the other test purchases, the Police cadets were challenged by retail staff as to their age and the sales were rightly refused.

Knife enabled crime remains a priority within West Yorkshire, and Police are continuing to work in partnership to tackle the underlying causes to keep knives out of the hands of young people within our communities.