London,
30
May
2011
|
23:00
Europe/London
Dalston shop assistant pleads guilty of knife sale to child
On 26 May at Thames Magistrates Court, Ms Chidema Ekemezuma of 5b Powis Terrace, London, pleaded guilty to selling a kitchen set - including a knife with a blade measuring just under 3.5 inches - to a child.
The incident took place last September at Poundland Ltd, 62-64 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2JP, when Ms Ekemezuma sold the equipment to a 14 year-old police cadet without demanding proof of age. The sale was witnessed by officers from Hackney Council s Trading Standards Service, and formed part of a test purchase operation, supported by Hackney Central Safer Neighbourhoods policing team.
Ms Chidema Ekemezuma was given a conditional discharge of eighteen months and full costs of £400 were awarded to the Council.
Councillor Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at the Council, says: "We are committed to taking enforcement action against those who sell dangerous or harmful items to children in Hackney. This operation formed part of a regular programme, and we will continue to work with partners to ensure that businesses comply with the law, taking action where they do not."
PC Tim Beaumont, Hackney Police s Cadets Coordinator, adds: "I am pleased with the outcome of this case and hope that it will act as a warning to other businesses, who do not ask young people for proof of their age. I would like to thank the cadets in Hackney, who have dedicated their free time to help the police and Council obtain this result."
The incident took place last September at Poundland Ltd, 62-64 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2JP, when Ms Ekemezuma sold the equipment to a 14 year-old police cadet without demanding proof of age. The sale was witnessed by officers from Hackney Council s Trading Standards Service, and formed part of a test purchase operation, supported by Hackney Central Safer Neighbourhoods policing team.
Ms Chidema Ekemezuma was given a conditional discharge of eighteen months and full costs of £400 were awarded to the Council.
Councillor Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at the Council, says: "We are committed to taking enforcement action against those who sell dangerous or harmful items to children in Hackney. This operation formed part of a regular programme, and we will continue to work with partners to ensure that businesses comply with the law, taking action where they do not."
PC Tim Beaumont, Hackney Police s Cadets Coordinator, adds: "I am pleased with the outcome of this case and hope that it will act as a warning to other businesses, who do not ask young people for proof of their age. I would like to thank the cadets in Hackney, who have dedicated their free time to help the police and Council obtain this result."