A Car Boot Sale Anomaly

A recent visit to the Marks Tey car boot sale in Colchester revealed a disturbing trend – blades as long as 12 inches are on sale for just £10, despite being illegal under the Offensive Weapons Order. The officer, who spoke to the Gazette under the condition of anonymity, said he was convinced some of the blades he saw at the sale were being sold illegally following a change in the law last year.

• 12” blades on sale
• kitchen knives and meat cleavers also being sold
• no ID checks required for purchases

The officer described the scene as “in-your-face” and stated that it was the volume of blades being sold that was worrying him. While the organiser of the car boot sale, Chris Harrington, did not have the legal power to forcibly remove vendors, he welcomed the police making more rigorous checks on stallholders who sell knives and other potential weapons. “I speak to the vendor to ask them to take any offending items off sale or provide a cover,” Harrington said. “Unfortunately, I do not have the legal powers to take it any further myself.”
As reported by the Gazette, the officer took several pictures of the blades and replica guns and said he was taken aback by how openly people were selling the items.

The Law on Knives and Airguns

The Offensive Weapons Order

The Offensive Weapons Order closed a loophole which had previously allowed providers to sell zombie knives – long blades which feature serrated edges, and spikes – as long as they didn’t depict images or language which suggested violence. Despite an amnesty last year before the legislation came into effect in September, many of the blades are still carried as part of criminal activities such as drug dealing, with Essex Police seizing zombie knives during a search warrant in Colchester earlier this year.

Trading Standards and the Council

A Colchester Council spokesman said the authority has “no direct role in monitoring individual sales at car boot sales” and said any concerns about illegal items should be reported to Trading Standards or the police for investigation. As reported by the Gazette, Trading Standards said they were not responsible for permitting or licencing boot sales, and the council was not involved in monitoring these sales either.

The Rise of the Blade: A Concerning Trend

As reported by the Gazette, the 12” blades were being sold alongside kitchen knives and meat cleavers, and no ID checks were required for purchases. The officer described the scene as “in-your-face” and stated that it was the volume of blades being sold that was worrying him. “It has been a lot more in-your-face recently,” the officer said. “You get kids over there, especially in the holidays. When I saw what was being sold, I was stopped in my step – it was the volume of them.”

A Visit to the Car Boot Sale

As reported by the Gazette, a visit to the Marks Tey car boot sale revealed a disturbing trend – blades as long as 12 inches were on sale for just £10. “A tenner can get you the sort of stuff you never thought you’d have a chance to get your hands on,” a bystander said. “If none of these take your fancy, maybe a 12” blade or a replica gun are the things for you.”
The seller told us that he cleans out houses and comes across all sorts of items.

When the Gazette purchased two knives – a 12” billhook and a meat cleaver – no ID checks were required.

Who Checks What’s Being Sold?

As reported by the Gazette, the complex laws around the sale of knives make it difficult for regulators to monitor their sale at car boot events. According to official guidance from Trading Standards, the law depends on the type of knife being sold and its intended or advertised use. “Selling or possessing flick knives, butterfly knives, swords, zombie-style knives, and zombie-style machetes is illegal,” Trading Standards said. “But the sale of other knives to those over the age of 18 is not.”
As for airguns and replica guns, a licence is not needed to sell them privately, which is the case with car boot sales.

Consequences and Concerns

MP for Colchester Pax Cox expressed her concern over the ease at which knives and large blades can be bought at car boot sales in the city.
“There are strict laws in place for the sale of knives and these should apply equally to retailers and anyone selling knives second hand,” she said. “I have raised the issue of knife crime in the House of Commons and the new Crime and Policing Bill that I voted for gives the police further powers to seize knives and take action against anyone selling these to anyone under the age of 18.”
She also asked the government and Essex Police for further clarity on the rules around reselling to ensure that it is being done in a responsible way.
“If necessary, I will push for further action because I know that knife crime is a worry for many people.”
As reported by the Gazette, the officer took several pictures of the blades and replica guns and said he was taken aback by how openly people were selling the items.

A Response from the Organiser

As reported by the Gazette, the organiser of one of Colchester’s largest car boot sales, Chris Harrington, said he did not have the legal power to forcibly remove vendors.
“Unfortunately, I do not have the legal powers to take it any further myself,” Harrington said. “I welcome the police making more rigorous checks on stallholders who sell knives and other potential weapons.”
“If someone is selling such items and we are made aware of this, I speak to the vendor to ask them to take any offending items off sale or provide a cover,” Harrington said. “The response is usually one of understanding and the items are removed; if necessary, I have threatened to call the police.”
“I do not have the legal powers to take it any further myself,” Harrington said.

A Call to Action

As reported by the Gazette, Essex Police said anyone who has concerns about the sale of the weapons should contact them.
“We do engage with the organisers of large-scale boot sales, such as the regular event held in Marks Tey,” Essex Police said. “Officers work frequently with retailers across our county around the sale of knives.”
“We’d ask anyone with concerns around items on sale should to get in touch with us,” Essex Police said. “If you have any concerns about knives, contact us on 101 and we will do our best to help you.”
A Colchester Council spokesman said the authority has “no direct role in monitoring individual sales at car boot sales” and said any concerns about illegal items should be reported to Trading Standards or the police for investigation.
“No direct role in monitoring individual sales at car boot sales,” Colchester Council said.