Homes and Property | Home Page'Ban knife sales to under-18s'Rebecca Mowling Crime Reporter|Evening Standard13 April 2012The Government today announced plans to ban the sale of knives to under-18s.The move is among tough new measures being considered to tackle growing knife crime among teenagers. Proposals under consideration include: Raising the minimum age for purchasing a knife to 18, bringing the sale of knives in line with the sale of fireworks and alcohol. Granting headteachers new powers to search pupils for knives. Giving licensed premises the power to search customers for an offensive weapon. Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "The Government is seriously considering strengthening the law to help get knives off our streets. Bringing in a ban on under-18s buying knives - as at present with alcohol and fireworks - will play a key part." Latest figures show that a third of the victims of knife crime are between 10 and 17. AMori survey for the Youth Justice Board found 29 per cent of secondary school children admitted carrying a knife.In London, one in six muggings now involves a knife. A knife crime is committed every 25 minutes, with four in five offenders aged between 12 and 20. The Met recently launched Operation Blunt in a bid to reduce knife crime.MORE ABOUTDavid BlunkettFireworksLabour PartySales