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Daily reveals council cover-up on shops that break law

A Freedom of Information request by a daily newspaper revealed that trading standards officers in Oxfordshire are protecting the names of dozens of businesses caught selling cigarettes, fireworks and knives to children.

Figures obtained by Oxford Mail reporter Oliver Evans show 27 out of 85 premises checked over the period of a year sold age-restricted items to under-17s as part of trading standards stings.

But Oxfordshire County Council refused to release the premises’ names as this might ‘harm the commercial interests of another person.’

The newspaper had requested the names and addresses of all the traders who had sold to the underage shoppers.

The authority has now been criticised by opposition councillors saying firms which break the law should not be protected to safeguard profits.

Council Liberal Democrat leader Zoe Patrick told the Mail: “The public have a right to know if businesses are not complying with the law.”

Of the eight premises tested for knife sales, three failed, resulting in two warning letters and a police caution. Retailers caught for selling other goods got a warning letter.

The council told the newspaper the act exempted the names as tests were “for the purpose of criminal investigations and potential criminal proceedings” and that its release “may harm the commercial interests of another person.”

It said a failed test might not be an “accurate reflection” of whether the premises is currently selling to underage youngsters and shops could have changed ownership.

The Newsquest-owned Mail declined to comment further on the findings.