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Outcry over knife display in store
A SHOP on the Lisson Green estate where a teenager was stabbed to death has angered residents after a selection of cut-price “blades” were put up for sale in a prominent window display.
The Lisson Green branch of convenience chain store – which opened last week, minutes away from the spot where 18-year-old Jevon Henry was murdered outside his home in January 2006 – sparked fears among the community that the display could encourage the use of knives and lead to another tragedy on the estate.
After residents raised concerns, the manager of the store, said he would stop selling knives on the estate.
“I’m going to get rid of all the knives and blades,” he told the West End Extra yesterday (Thursday). “I realise it is not right to sell them here.”
Graham Johnson, who has lived on the estate for 10 years, said: “Lisson Green suffered a terrible tragedy last year and since the death of Jevon Henry there has been much soul-searching on the estate.
“One of the problems with knife crime is that the knives are so easy to get hold of. Police have said that most of the knives used for these stabbings come from the kitchen or from hardware stores.
“There are a lot of teenagers living here and it does not help if the knives are on display.”
Church Street ward councillor Barbara
Grahame said: “We are delighted that the knives are no longer on display and that the shopkeeper will be sending some of the knives back to the supplier.
“We will be keeping a close watch to ensure that the knives do not reappear on display and we are grateful to residents for alerting us to this issue.”
Cllr Grahame contacted the council’s trading standards officers who said they were “happy” the manager had agreed to not sell knives on the estate.
She added: “Mr Arab was also advised to move some unsheathed scissors to behind the counter and the he seemed perfectly happy to do this.” |
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