Retailers need to be vigilant about knife crime following stabbing

Shopkeepers in Wimbledon are being asked to be more vigilant when selling knives after a father was murdered at a children's birthday party.

Since the death of Akilankumar Kanthasamy, 29, in Mitcham, a couple weeks ago, Merton Council's trading standards officers have been carrying out a series of undercover visits to shops with a 15-year old, attempting to buy knives.

Over a two-day period 14 attempts were made to purchase knives and while 12 retailers refused to sell, two shops still sold to the child. Since April, Merton Council said there have been 32 attempted test purchases of knives in the borough and six sales to young people.

A council spokesperson said some retailers made sales without even looking at the child and others didn't bother to ask the child's age or for ID.

Trading standards have offered repeated advice and support to retailers on the law and practical advice on precautions that can be taken to avoid illegal sales.

They have also issued a number of cautions and have prosecuted offending retailers in their attempt to stamp out the sale of knives to young people.

Councillor Andrew Judge, Merton Council cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration said: "Our trading standards team work in partnership with local retailers to ensure that knives and other goods are not sold to anyone under the legal age.

"Most retailers take on board the advice and support provided to them and are responsible in recognising their role in the local community.

"Regrettably some are not and so we hope the work the team is doing and the actions we are taking to prosecute will send a warning to those willing to allow dangerous goods such as knives to get into the wrong hands."

Mr Kanthasamy, originally from Sri Lanka, but living in Ilford, was stabbed in the heart outside the New Horizon Centre in Mitcham, where he had been celebrating the first birthday of the daughter of a friend. Mr Kanthasamy had a nine-month-old baby boy and a wife, who were also at the event when the stabbing took place.