Campaigner slams sales of 'stabbed man' knife holder

An anti-knife campaigner criticised Selfridges today for selling a knife holder in the shape of a man among products aimed at young people.

The Voodoo Knife Block, a novelty knife holder with blades piercing its arms, legs and chest, is on display in the department store's basement next to remote-control cars, arcade games and table football.

Ann Oakes-Odger, who set up an anti-knife crime website after her son Westley, 27, was stabbed to death in 2005, said the item was "in very bad taste". She added: "Before knife crime started creeping up we didn't have products of this kind but now all sorts are emerging. They are using what's happening as a way to sell their product and make it appeal to teenagers."

The block is being sold in the Red5 concession at the Oxford Street store.

A Selfridges spokeswoman said: "It's not to everyone's taste and of course we display it in a locked cabinet and we check age ID before we sell it."

Jonathan Elvidge, managing director of Red5, said: "We will not remove it. We have sold approaching 10,000 of them over the last two years - people like it and are happy to spend £60 or £70 on it."