B&M Bargains, one of the UK’s largest discount retailers, has been fined £480,000 for repeatedly selling knives to children.
The company admitted to Barkingside Magistrates’ Court that staff in two east London stores had handed over blades to four teenagers as young as 14.
B&M was caught out following an undercover sting by police and trading standards officials. Four children were sent to the Barking and Chadwell Heath on separate occasions and were not unchallenged by staff before making their purchases.
The high-street store had its initial £720,000 fine reduced after pleading guilty in June this year to three counts of selling knives to under-18s.
On 19 September, a 15-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl were able to buy a set of four “very sharply pointed” knives, at its Goodmayes Retail Park store in Redbridge, Barkingside Magistrates' Court heard.
Just two days later at its Vicarage Fields store in Barking, a 16-year-old boy bought a three-piece knife set. At the same store on 19 January this year a boy aged 14 successfully purchased three knives.
Sentencing District Judge Gary Lucie said that the successful test purchases proved that B&M Bargains had failed to implement measures to prevent children purchasing knives in “high risk areas”.
"Knife crime is at record levels across the country, particularly in London,” he said. "One of the most concerning failures is that B&M did not implement other systems. This includes putting knives in cupboards as it does with perfume."
He added that the he took the case seriously because juveniles "are particularly vulnerable and should not have access to knives from shops, not just for the protection and safety of society, but for their own".
B&M has 28 days to pay the £480,000 fine, plus £12,428 court costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
The record fine comes just months after the firm was accused of promoting excessive drinking after running an advert for a glass that can hold a full bottle of Prosecco.
“Like Prosecco? Then you’ll LOVE these glasses- they can hold a FULL bottle [3 heart eye emojis]!” the Facebook promotion said. “Plus, we’ve got Prosecco in store for just £5.99 so it’s a perfect time to stock up for Christmas. TAG the biggest Prosecco fan you know!”
The Advertising Standards Authority banned the advert saying it “implied it was acceptable for one person to consume an entire bottle of prosecco in one sitting.
