A furious mum has slammed Home Bargains for selling a “disgusting” Halloween accessory amid a knife crime epidemic sweeping her city.
Katy Rose, 38, from Staffordshire, was left outraged after seeing “blood-spattered” knives displayed next to children’s costumes in her local shop.
The mother-of-two, whose sons are five and seven, believes the £1.99 plastic knives look “too realistic” to be sold alongside “cute” outfits and accessories aimed at children.
The writer has since criticized the budget retail chain for selling the “tacky” accessory while the city, which has not been identified by Katy, is “in the midst of a knife crime crisis.”
Staffordshire as a whole has a knife crime rate of 6.5 per 10,000 people, according to Churchill Support Services.
Katy Rose, 38, from Staffordshire, was outraged after seeing “blood-spattered” knives displayed next to children’s costumes at her local Home Bargains store.
In the year ending March 2024, Staffordshire Police recorded 744 serious offenses including murder, rape, robbery, assault and sexual assault involving the use of a knife.
“I normally really enjoy shopping at Home Bargains and was choosing costumes for my two children when I saw the knives hanging over brooms and witch hats,” Katy said.
“A realistic knife covered in blood and displayed in a city center shop, in an area rife with knife crime, does not sit well with me as a mother.”
Although the mother insists she “understands” that “scary” props and imaginary weapons can be bought in costume shops or online, she also believes they should not be available on the high street.
As the accessories are displayed “in plain view of children”, the mother also fears that the sale of this type of plastic weapon on a high street could “glamourise” knife attacks.
She said: “I think selling these types of items among children’s costumes and family-themed decorations simply normalizes and even glamorizes knife attacks.”
“Many charities and organizations are desperately trying to stop children carrying guns.”
Katy added that the sale of plastic knives “dripping blood” is a “very serious error in judgment” on the part of the retailer.
The mother-of-two, whose children are five and seven, believes the £1.99 plastic knives look “too realistic” to be sold alongside “cute” outfits and accessories aimed at children.
The writer has since criticized the budget retail chain for selling the “tacky” accessory, while the city, which Katy has not named, is “in the midst of a knife crime crisis.”
Knives can be seen hanging above brooms and witches’ hats, as well as red pitchforks and Grim Reaper-style scythes.
The mother said: “I think selling these types of items among children’s costumes and family-themed decorations simply normalizes and even glamorizes knife attacks.”
Mother considers it “inappropriate” to “encourage” young children and teenagers to walk the streets during Halloween with a plastic knife in their hand
Even though Home Bargains is a go-to for Katy, who often shops there for seasonal items like fall wreaths and pumpkin doormats, the retailer has let her down.
The mother believes it is “inappropriate” to “encourage” young children and teenagers to walk the streets during Halloween with a plastic knife in their hand.
She explained: “I know some people will say you can’t censor Halloween, but I think this is very different than a ghost, witch or zombie costume.
“Those are not real and knife crimes are very real, they happen on the streets across the UK every day.”
Even though Home Bargains is a go-to for Katy, who often shops there for seasonal items like fall wreaths and pumpkin doormats, the retailer has let her down.
The mother added: “This time the store has made a very bad decision.”
A spokesperson for Home Bargains declined to comment, as “no one was available for comment” at the time of writing.
FEMAIL has contacted for further comment.
It comes after a mother reported that a baby mirror purchased at Home Bargains and placed in her vehicle “burned holes” and almost caused a fire in her child’s car seat.
