“Brought to justice”: Hackney business owner convicted after selling knife to child

The owner of a Dalston convenience store has been convicted of selling a knife to a child aged just fourteen following a joint operation by Hackney Council and the Metropolitan Police.

Muhammed Syed, the owner of Madina Pound Plus on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, pleaded guilty to selling a knife to a 14-year-old at Thames Magistrates Court on Wednesday 11 November.

The offence took place on 28 May 2025 following a successful test purchasing operation that saw local police cadets attempting to buy age restricted products.

It is a criminal offence to sell knives to anyone under the age of 18 in the UK.

In the same trial, Mr Syed also pleaded guilty to illegally displaying a ‘no refunds’ sign. It's one of the first convictions under new legislation that came into force in April 2025 to tackle unfair trading practices.

The convictions occurred after Mr Syed ignored clear advice from Hackney Council’s trading standards team about underage knife sales and proof of age standards in visits to his business.

He was fined £1,046 for the offences, with a further £2,000 in costs awarded to Hackney Council and a victim surcharge of £418.

Cllr Susan Fajana Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services at Hackney Council, said: “Laws around the underage sale of knives are there for a reason, and I’m appalled to see a local business flouting the rules in a borough where we have done so much to protect our young people from the tragedy knife crime can bring.

“That’s why I’m delighted to see this business owner brought to justice, and proud of the work our trading standards team does to challenge traders who put money before the safety of their customers and our community.”

Find out more about Trading Standards in Hackney: hackney.gov.uk/trading-standards