Council prosecutes pharmacy over illegal razor blade sale

Councillor Hamida Ali, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities will continue to prosecute negligent businesses of any size to keep Croydon residents as safe as possible.

The owners of a pharmacy in Croydon have been ordered to pay over £10,000 in a court prosecution after trading standards officers caught them selling razor blades to a child.

Croydon Council prosecuted Servicare Limited after a member of staff at was seen selling a packet of five razor blades to someone aged under 18.

Croydon Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday 16 October, that the employee had tried to sell the razor blades to the boy on 12 April this year, even after finding out he was 15 years old.

The attempted sale was witnessed by a member of Croydon Council’s trading standards team. The boy was a test purchasing volunteer for the council.

The prosecution came after the pharmacy had received several warnings about the need to know the law on the sale of knives, razors and blades.

After entering an early guilty plea, Servicare was ordered to pay £10,304 including an £8,000 fine.

Councillor Hamida Ali, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities, said: “It is illegal to sell knives or razor blades to anyone under 18, and we will continue to prosecute negligent businesses of any size to keep Croydon residents as safe as possible.

“This case could have been avoided if the business had accepted our offer to train them in this part of the law. I therefore urge other Croydon retailers to sign up for our future training courses so everyone knows that these potentially dangerous products must only be sold to adults.”

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