A store in Southall has been fined for selling knives to an underage teenager.

Best Bargain Store Ltd was told to pay nearly £3,000 after selling the bladed instrument to a test purchaser under the age of 18.

It was part of a partnership between police in Ealing and the council’s Trading Standards to tackle knife crime in the borough.

The store was found guilty of selling a knife to someone under 18 and fined £2,000 at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on April 2.

The store was also told to pay costs of £834 and a surcharge of £120.

Operation Pointy End was introduced in May 2014, with the aim of not only reducing knife crime and dealing with offences, but also focused on those selling knives and making them aware of licensing requirements.

During phase two of the operation in August of last year, a total of six local shops in the Southall area were visited by volunteer police cadets, police officers and Trading Standards. Only one store failed to comply with the law.

Overall, Ealing Police and Trading Standards were encouraged by the number of shopkeepers who asked for identification and refused the sale of potentially lethal weapons to under 18s.

It represents a marked improvement on phase one of the operation, which took place in May last year. It saw a total of 13 shops visited, of which six supplied knives or a pack of knives, without asking questions.

Acting Police Sergeant Matt Jenkins said: “I believe that this ongoing operation has gone some way towards re-educating shops and stores about the dangers and consequences of selling pointed and bladed articles to young people.

“I witnessed at first hand sellers and store owners asking for identification and denying the sale of such items.

“This prosecution however demonstrates the consequences should these rules not be adhered to.”