Home Australia Major change for Coles amid crackdown on knife crime

Major change for Coles amid crackdown on knife crime

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The Smeg knife range (pictured) has been banned in 24 stores in Victoria, while the products are also no longer sold in some stores in Queensland and New South Wales.

Supermarket giant Coles has imposed major restrictions on the sale of a popular kitchen item in dozens of stores amid fears for the safety of shoppers and staff.

The Smeg knife range, which can currently be redeemed through Flybuys points, has been removed from 26 stores across Australia in a major crime-fighting move.

The items have been banned from 24 Coles stores in Victoria, one each in Queensland and New South Wales.

It follows the lead of supermarket rival Woolworths, which removed knives from 350 stores nationwide following a stabbing attack at a Melbourne store checkout in 2021.

Coles spokesperson Martine Alpins said the supermarket giant takes the wellbeing of its customers seriously.

“Safety is the number one priority when it comes to our team members and, of course, our customers,” said Ms. Alpins. 7 news.

“We heard from our team members, we heard from the community that they would prefer not to have them (the Smeg knife range) in those stores because of particular incidents that have occurred.”

He urged other retailers to consider whether the sale of the items reflects the safety concerns the community has about knives.

The Smeg knife range (pictured) has been banned in 24 stores in Victoria, while the products are also no longer sold in some stores in Queensland and New South Wales.

“They are available in many retailers across Australia and they should be, but I think it’s important for retailers to be aware of what’s going on,” Ms Alpins said.

Some shoppers welcomed the move, while others called it an “overreaction.”

Meanwhile, Aldi said it is complying with the rules by selling special buy knives to customers.

Australia has been rocked by major incidents involving people using knives and putting shoppers’ safety at risk.

The Smeg knife range has also been removed from Coles in Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction.

Six people, five women and a security guard, were killed in April when Joel Cauchi was stabbed in the busy Westfield in the city’s east.

A nine-month-old girl was one of 12 other people stabbed before the man was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.

Some shoppers agreed with the move to ban the item in supermarkets, while others called the decision a

Some shoppers agreed with the move to ban the item from supermarkets, while others called the decision an “overreaction” (file image from a Coles store).

A 60-year-old man and a security guard were allegedly stabbed by a man at a Woolworths store in Barkly Square, in Brunswick, north of Melbourne, in October 2021.

Woolworths announced at the time that it would temporarily remove knives and scissors from stores nationwide, a move that has since been made permanent in 350 stores.

Queensland and Victoria have the strictest knife laws in Australia.

Knives cannot be sold to minors under 18 years of age in the Sunshine State.

Anyone caught carrying a knife in a public place can be jailed or fined $5,750.

A person caught carrying a knife can go to jail for a year in Victoria.

Selling a knife to anyone under 18 carries a fine of up to $46,154 or a two-year prison sentence.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Coles, Woolworths and Aldi for further comment.

Knife Laws in Australia

New South Wales

The penalty for possessing a knife in the state increased from $2,200 to $4,400 following an amendment to the Crimes Act in 2023.

More severe offenses were also introduced against those caught carrying a knife in a public place or in a school and wielding a knife in any of these areas.

The maximum prison sentences for these crimes were extended from two to four years.

ACT

Under ACT Crimes Act laws, people can possess a knife in a public place or school without a reasonable excuse.

Reasonable excuses granted under the provisions of the legislation include the need to carry a knife for work, food preparation or religious purposes.

Anyone caught in possession of a knife without a reasonable excuse can face a fine of $1,600 or a sentence of six months behind bars.

Victory

A person caught carrying a knife can go to jail for a year in Victoria.

Selling a knife to a person under 18 years of age carries a fine of up to $46,154 or a two-year prison sentence.

Carrying a knife for self-defense purposes is not a valid excuse under state law.

queensland

In the Sunshine State, knives cannot be sold to people under 18 years of age.

Anyone caught carrying a knife in a public place can be jailed or fined a whopping $5,750.

Tasmania

Carrying a knife in public places in Tasmania is a crime.

Anyone caught committing the act could face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $9,750.

South Australia

Most knives in South Australia are considered prohibited weapons, so the item cannot be carried into a public place or school without an exemption.

Anyone who commits the crime will face a maximum penalty of $2,500 and six months in prison.

Selling knives to children under 16 is also illegal. The crime carries a fine of $20,000 or a sentence of two years behind bars.

Western Australia

Knives are considered a prohibited or controlled weapon in WA and a person cannot carry the item without a lawful excuse.

Anyone attempting to carry knives can face a maximum fine of $36,000 or a three-year jail sentence.

Northern Territory

Possessing a knife in a public place is illegal without a legal excuse.

Anyone found guilty of carrying a prohibited weapon without a reasonable excuse will receive a maximum sentence of two years behind bars or a fine of $70,400.

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