Large retailer to stop selling knives

EAST Anglia's largest independent retailer has announced it is withdrawing knives from sale in all its outlets with immediate effect.The East of England Co-operative Society said it will withdraw knives from sale in its 135 supermarkets and food stores and five petrol forecourt shops.

EAST Anglia's largest independent retailer has announced it is withdrawing knives from sale in all its outlets with immediate effect.

The East of England Co-operative Society said it will withdraw knives from sale in its 135 supermarkets and food stores and five petrol forecourt shops.

It hopes the decision will reduce the risk of knives 'falling into the wrong hands' in the communities its stores serve.

Richard Samson, chief executive, said: 'We operate a large number of food stores across East Anglia, many of which are based in rural and community locations.

'As a responsible retailer, we have decided to withdraw knives from sale in all of our food stores in the hope that this action will go some way to ensuring that they don't fall into the wrong hands.'

He added: 'Removing knives from our food stores will, we hope, go some way to eliminating the possibility of buying a knife on the spur of the moment.

'There are many concerns nationally about knife crime and even if someone is over 18 there is still the possibility knives purchased could fall into the wrong hands.

'We hope that our decision will reduce this risk in our local communities.'

The East of England Co-op is the third largest independent consumer co-operative in the UK and the largest independent retailer in East Anglia.

It already operates a stringent policy on Age Restricted Sales and asks for proof of identity for anyone looking under 21. Extensive training is also given to all front line staff.

The East of England Co-op has more than 200 trading outlets located in 73 towns and villages, plus the three regional centres of Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester.