Online Knife Sales and the Need for Stricter Regulations
In light of recent tragic events, it has come to light that many retailers and delivery services are failing to properly verify the age of people purchasing knives online.
A recent investigation revealed serious flaws in the process, raising concerns about how easily these dangerous items can fall into the wrong hands.
This issue became even more urgent following the horrifying Southport massacre, where a teenager was able to purchase a knife online without undergoing proper age checks, resulting in the death of three children.
The Tragic Southport Incident
Last July, 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison for the brutal murder of three young children and the injury of ten others.
The knife he used in the attack was purchased from Amazon for just £1.70.
Despite being underage, Rudakubana was able to bypass the age verification system and have the blade delivered to his home, where a package was handed over without any proper ID checks.
This oversight was a key factor in the tragedy, exposing significant gaps in the current regulations for selling knives online.
The Current State of Online Knife Sales
Currently, UK law prohibits the sale of knives to anyone under 18, and retailers are required to implement age verification systems.
However, the law is vague about how these systems should be enforced. This lack of clarity has allowed different retailers to adopt varying methods, with some failing to properly verify the buyer’s age during the purchase process or delivery.
The situation has become so problematic that it prompted Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to announce new measures, including a more stringent two-step age verification system and restrictions on delivery services.
Investigation: How Easy Is It to Buy a Knife Online?
A recent investigation by MailOnline highlighted the serious issues with current online knife sales.
Reporters purchased knives from five major retailers: Amazon, John Lewis, Lakeland, Etsy, and Temu.
In four out of five cases, the retailers failed to implement a two-step verification process, either neglecting to verify the buyer’s age at checkout or skipping ID checks during delivery.
One retailer did not require age verification at all, and another allowed a knife to be delivered without any age-related warning.
Amazon: A Mixed Approach
Amazon’s online system requires ID verification during the purchase process, but the delivery system still leaves room for error. The delivery driver must check the recipient’s age using an app, but this can sometimes be bypassed if the person looks over 25.
In the case of the reporter’s investigation, the delivery was made to someone who appeared over 18.
Amazon has since launched an urgent investigation into how Rudakubana managed to bypass their system.
John Lewis: A Delivery Fail
John Lewis, which uses a similar two-step age verification system, also ran into problems with its delivery service.
While its website asks for ID verification at the point of sale, its delivery partner, Royal Mail, failed to follow through.
The knife was left at the door when no one was home, and a false signature was recorded.
John Lewis has launched an investigation into the delivery mishap.
Lakeland: No Age Verification at Checkout
Lakeland’s online process didn’t require proof of age at checkout.
Although the knife was flagged as age-restricted, the package was delivered to a family member without any age verification, and the item was simply handed over with no warning about its contents.
Lakeland has since acknowledged the issue and is reviewing its procedures with its delivery partners.
Etsy: No Verification, No Warning
Etsy, a popular online marketplace, has its own set of rules, but when it comes to knife sales, the platform lacks adequate safeguards.
No age verification was requested at the point of sale, and the knife was delivered without any warnings about its dangerous nature.
The package was left unattended in a shared hallway, which would soon become illegal under the new regulations.
Temu: A Low-Cost, High-Risk Approach
Temu, an online marketplace known for ultra-low-priced household goods, also showed significant flaws in its age verification process.
Although the site claims that buyers must be over 18, no photo ID was requested at the time of purchase.
The delivery service, Royal Mail, did eventually ask for age verification, but only after the item had already been dispatched.
New Regulations: A Step in the Right Direction
The government is now planning to introduce more robust regulations for online knife sales.
Under the new laws, a two-step age verification process will be mandatory.
Customers will need to submit photo ID at both the point of sale and upon delivery.
Additionally, delivery companies will only be allowed to hand over knives to the same person who made the purchase.
These stricter rules aim to prevent knives from reaching minors and ensure that deliveries are handled safely.
Conclusion: Time for Action
The findings from this investigation underline the need for urgent changes to how knives are sold online.
While some retailers are taking steps to improve their processes, the inconsistencies and failures observed in this investigation show that more needs to be done.
The government’s new measures are a welcome start, but it remains to be seen how quickly they will be implemented.
In the meantime, retailers and delivery services must take responsibility for tightening their age verification practices to protect the public from harm.