The Trading Standards Team is working together with shopkeepers to make sure that they do not consciously break the law by selling age restricted products to young people.
These goods include alcohol, fireworks, solvents, lighters, national lottery tickets and scratch cards, offensive weapons, knives, cigarettes, tobacco, air guns, adult magazines, petrol and videos.
We are committed to making Barking and Dagenham a safe place by cracking down on crime and antisocial behaviour.
We have produced a guide to age restricted products to help shopkeepers and traders stay within the law.
It has been proved that when we prevent people selling products such as alcohol and fireworks to young people, the community experiences a fall in the level of crime in general, and of antisocial behaviour in particular.
There are laws governing the age that young people can buy a wide range of goods. If a seller, owner or trader illegally sells any product they can be prosecuted and if found guilty, there are fines of up to £5,000 and the possibility of a prison sentence.
To make sure that traders are not breaking these laws we carry out test-purchasing exercises. This involves young people working undercover with trading standards officers and the police, to see which shops will sell goods to under-age buyers.
Your guide to age restricted products|
These web pages contain information and advice which will help you to avoid breaking the law and will make the borough a safer place for us all to live and work in. Read them carefully and follow the advice given.
In order to help eradicate this problem, Environmental and Enforcement Services have developed a Proof of Age Scheme in partnership with a company called Citizencard.
Young people from the age of 11 can apply for these photographic cards which state their date of birth. These cards are free to all young people living in the borough whether or not they attend school in other boroughs.
The card will entitle holders to various advantages other than proof of age - it will offer discounts on things such as driving lessons, CDs, videos, computer games and many more.
You can apply directly online at the Citizencard website.
We are asking retailers to sign up to a legal partnership agreement, which lists all the legislation.
There is a 5 point check system so that shopkeepers can establish that a card is genuine and a poster to display in their shop window stating 'We are a responsible retailer'. Shopkeepers will also receive a certificate stating their agreement number for display on their premises.
Environmental and Enforcement Services feel confident that all reputable businesses will want to support the scheme, which will allow the enforcement officers to concentrate their resources on the businesses that continually flout the law.
Business Support Team
Environmental and Enforcement Services
Roycraft House
15 Linton Road
Barking
IG11 8HE
Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:
Tel: 020 8215 3007
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.
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© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470