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."