Two shops could lose their licences after a police operation found they sold knives to underage shoppers.

Police from Barnet Borough Licensing and Volunteer Police cadets in partnership with Trading Standards deployed officers to stores in knife crime “hot spots” on May 3, to ensure shops were checking for ID when selling knives.

They found that of the 25 stores only two sold knives to the young people, who were and appeared to be under the age of 18.

The stores which sold the knives were Money Saver in Watford Way and Value 4 Money in Golders Green Road, and both shopkeepers will be invited to Colindale police station to be interviewed before they decide an outcome.

Sergeant Jane Tuffin said: “Local shopkeepers need to be aware that they will be held responsible for their actions should they be found to provide knives to young people.

“Barnet is committed to reducing knife crime and protecting young lives, this is just one tactic that is being utilised to achieve this.”

All shops selling knives will receive a visit from police in the coming weeks to review their practices and check that knives are not readily available, additional security measures are in place, CCTV is targeted on the area and the store has a challenge policy and a way of working out when knives are missing.

The preventative operations are intended to deprive under-18s of their access to knives and remove weapons from those intent on doing harm, and from young people who may feel peer-pressured into carrying them.