A South End pharmacy was fined £10,000 last week after a council sting caught them illegally selling razor blades to a child.

A trading standards team witnessed an attendant at Swan Pharmacy try to sell a packet of five Wilkinson Sword razor blades to the boy, a test purchasing volunteer planted by the council, on April 12, despite being told he was 15.

Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, it is an offence to sell razor blades to someone aged under 18. The attendant thought the legal age was 16.

The prosecution came after the pharmacy had received several reminders of the law on the sale of knives, razors and blades, including a warning earlier that month that purchasing sessions would be taking place in the coming weeks. 

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.”

The Council prosecuted Servicare Limited, who own the pharmacy, ordering them to pay £10,304.