Councils' trading standards teams must work harder to catch shop-owners who sell knives to under-18s, a minister has said. Home Office minister, Vernon Coaker, has called for a ‘crackdown' on the illegal sale of knives in a letter sent to council chief executives and chief police officers. Mr Coaker said: ‘Knife crime is a complex issue, which we all need to work together to solve. Enforcement action is one part of the solution.' But LACORS said councils were on the case, citing the work of seven councils which, over the last two months, had run undercover checks on retailers selling knives. LACORS chairman, Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, thinks council teams are already doing the relevant checks, but recognised the need for vigilance. ‘Council trading standards teams are already taking a tough stance on shops selling knives to children, and carry out regular checks to make sure retailers aren't breaking the law. ‘Unfortunately, there are clearly still a minority who are prepared to profit by selling knives to children,' he said.