Colchester shops caught selling alcohol and knives to under 18s

Essex Trading Standards visited a total of 16 shops in the town centre over the weekend as part of a joint operation with officers from Essex Police.

The agencies decided to take action after seeing an increase in parents reporting their teenage children had been allowed to purchase items they were too young to buy.

Underage shoppers were used as part of the test purchases attempting to buy everything from alcohol and knives to vapes.

They were successful in six of the shops they visited, illegally being sold products which are otherwise restricted to adults.

Bosses at Essex Trading Standards have now vowed to investigate the findings and hand out punishments to the shops in question where necessary.

A spokesman said: “Following up on local intelligence, Essex Trading Standards visited 16 premises in Colchester as part of a joint operation with Essex Police.

“Six of these sold age-restricted products to an underage test purchaser - four sold alcohol, one sold vapes and one sold a knife.

“Appropriate follow-up action will be taken against the premises concerned.”

The news of the bust has since sparked a strong reaction among parents, with many claiming it has been a known problem within the area for some time.

Tracey Luff-Johnson said: “What a surprise, for some sellers profits will always be more important than the welfare of that underage person, sadly.”

Kirstie Melville also says her 13-year-old daughter was once sold an item in a town centre shop which was strictly for customers over the age of 18.

During the operation, the police’s Colchester Town Centre Team was also joined by volunteer cadets who played their part in the initiative.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “These visits are to ensure our communities are kept safe.”

Anyone with information and intelligence regarding the sale of products to underage customers are asked to call Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133.”