INFO OFFICE

摘要

Q. I understand that trading standards is sending older looking persons under 18 to purchase knives and then prosecuting where there is a sale. Is entrapment allowed and is there any defence?rnA. This has indeed been happeningrnand it is lawful for entrapment to be used in these circumstances and there is no defence. You can plead mitigating circumstances to pos-rnsibly reduce the fine but the best course of action is to train staff in a fail-safe procedure to eliminate the danger. Firstly, the person attempting to buy should be asked their age. It would be against public policy for civil servants to train youngsters to lie. A second course of action adopted by some members is to train staff to 'think 21' rather than 18. This is a good idea but inevitably some youths and young girls under 18 may well look over 21 and those would be the ones picked by the department. Accordingly, a satisfactory proof of identification should be asked for. You are required to keep a register of withheld sales and it is important to enter all available details -which may be minimal - but should include date and time and product involved.