RETAILERS have come under scrutiny after a series of test purchases revealed concerning failures in knife sales checks.

The operation formed part of Sceptre, a national campaign aimed at reducing knife-related violence, and saw police conduct weapon sweeps and undercover test purchasing across the county last week.

In a striking discovery, police cadets were able to buy knives in multiple stores without being challenged, raising fresh concerns over how effectively retailers are enforcing age verification rules.

In Trowbridge, six businesses were tested – only two refused to sell knives to the underage volunteers. In four cases, knives were sold without any request for ID.

In Devizes, two out of three shops failed the test.

In the Tidworth and Amesbury area, further checks found one business also failed to comply with the Challenge 25 policy.

The results have prompted renewed warnings from policing leaders, who say retailers must do more to prevent knives falling into the wrong hands.

A knife amnesty bin. (Picture: Wiltshire Police)

Alongside enforcement activity, Wiltshire Police also used the week to launch two new initiatives aimed at tackling knife crime at source: the Wiltshire Police Bleed Kit Partnership and a trial Safer Knives replacement scheme, which offers households at higher risk the chance to swap traditional kitchen knives for safer rounded alternatives.

Superintendent Mike Vass said the week had combined prevention, education and enforcement.

“We’ve had a really busy week of proactive, preventative work with the launch of the Bleed Kit Partnership and the Safer Knives scheme,” he said.

“Both initiatives should have a positive impact on our communities and reflect our commitment to tackling knife crime in Wiltshire.

Police also engaged with young people, taking a knife arch into schools and colleges including Bradon Forest School in Purton, New College Swindon and Salisbury College,.

Anti-social behaviour hotspot manager Lianna Bradshaw said the retail failures were a serious concern.

“It’s really disappointing to hear a number of retailers failed to uphold the challenge 25 policy and it shows that more needs to be done,” she said.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said the results showed both the need for prevention and accountability, adding that funding from the Drug Forfeiture Fund was being reinvested into community safety initiatives designed to reduce violence and protect vulnerable people.