County have received the below complaint from a shop in Beverley (we don’t have the shop name) – basically young people (and parents in some cases) looking to buy penknives “for Scouts”. Obviously, we cannot be 100% sure that this is the reason they want them in all cases, but those with parents I am more likely to believe to be the case.
Please can we ask that you speak with your Scouts at the next opportunity to remind them that this is against the law and that giving abuse to shop workers is against our values too.
I work for a shop in Beverley, East Yorkshire. The past month we have had an increased number of minors coming in to buy penknives for Scouts. As I’m sure you’re aware it is against the law for us to sell it to them, but also to their parents as we know it is for them.
The reason I am contacting you is because I used to run a Brownie pack myself and surely if they require penknives then they should be provided by leaders and taken off them again when they don’t need them? I spoke to a leader that came into store that wasn’t part of this area who said penknives are not on the Scouts kit list. Also, the amount of abuse that my colleagues and I get for refusing sales to minors is disgusting.
Of course it would be useful if we could narrow this down, but I think a simple general chat on being a Scout, respect for others and the law around buying knives will suffice for now (the legal age is to buy them is 18). We have asked the shop to ask for the Scout Group of any further attempts to purchase, to try and narrow down where they are coming from (which of course may not just be Beverley).
