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SINGAPORE: Varun Singh, who runs a shop that sells camping gear, once refused to sell a “gangster-looking guy” a knife.
The man did not fit the typical store customer profile of outdoor enthusiasts or explorers, and more importantly, he did not want to answer questions about what he planned to use the knife for, said the owner of Nalno.com Outdoor. Equipment.
The store sells fixed blade knives, axes, parangs and cutting tools, all of which are “allowable” items, according to the Singapore Police (SPF) classifications.
This means that they can enter Singapore without needing a license, permit, authorization or approval from the police.
Therefore, it is not necessary to write down the details of the buyers, but Varun said he cares about asking customers about the purpose of the purchase.
“I make a simple profile of the clients and, of course, if the intention to buy is not correct, (it is not correct to sell),” said Varun.
CNA knife retailers said that strict adherence to police guidelines and erring on the side of caution are important elements in ensuring the safe sale of such items.
It was reported last week that a 16-year-old boy who was detained under the Internal Security Act for planning an attack on two mosques had planned to buy a machete to carry out the attacks.
The teenager had found his choice of machete on the Carousell online marketplace and added it to his favorite lists, but had not purchased it when he was arrested.
PROHIBITED, CONTROLLED AND PERMISSIBLE ITEMS
According to SPF, machetes are considered permitted items, along with kitchen knives, sickles, Swiss army knives, and those found in tents like Varun’s.
“However, some of these items can be considered offensive weapons depending on the circumstances in which they are found,” stated the police regulations.
“If the person wearing the item cannot provide a reasonable explanation, then they may have committed a crime under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act or the Miscellaneous Offenses (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.”
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The other two classifications are controlled items and prohibited items.
Controlled items require the approval of the Police Licensing and Regulation Department before they can be brought into Singapore.
These include firearms, air rifles, tasers, swords, bayonets, daggers, explosives, and crossbows.
As for prohibited items, including knives, knuckles, nanchakus, chain whips, or throwing stars, simply having them would be breaking the law.
DETAIL COLLECTION AND CUSTOMER EDUCATION
The KNX sword shop, which has a license to sell controlled items, said that customers who wish to purchase these items must provide their personal details as a security measure.
“We must collect your CI data, your address and contact number. The buyer must also be over 18 years old, ”said store owner Yumi Xiao, noting that customers are often collectors or cosplay enthusiasts.
But it doesn’t hurt to be cautious, so it also collects details of the allowed items that could be dangerous.
Katanas and swords sold on KNX, a store that is licensed to sell such controlled items. (Photo: KNX)
Ms. Xiao said that she also highlights the laws surrounding the possession of such items.
“(I’ll tell them) if you go fishing or hiking, you can use it for the activity, but taking the knife to Orchard, for example, is not allowed, it is not the right purpose,” he said.
At the Caesars Singapore sword shop, employees are trained to “evaluate” customers, their operations manager, Ng Huimin, said.
“They will evaluate and if they think it is not appropriate, for example a customer does not feel very sane, they will reject the transaction,” said Ms Ng.
He added that they reserve the right to reject clients who may be under police investigation.
“We definitely need to exercise social responsibility,” he added.
Knives sold at specialty store Caesars Singapore, which is licensed to sell controlled items. (Photo: Caesars Singapore)
Some retailers said that there is a lot that sellers can do.
In addition to calling the parents of the young shoppers to verify the purchase, Mr. Derrick Wong of the Outdoor Tactical camping equipment store said that customers have the right to purchase uncontrolled items.
Nor would it be right to turn buyers away based solely on their appearance, Wong said. Instead, it goes out of its way to educate clients on the relevant laws.
What happens beyond that is difficult to control, he said. “The tool is just a tool. It is the person who is going to use it on the right hand or the wrong hand. “
“If the intention is totally wrong, even a fully sharpened pencil can also kill people,” added Mr. Wong.
GET ONLINE KNIVES
These knives can also be purchased through online platforms, which some say makes those potential weapons more accessible.
But the founder of Urbantoolhaus, an online retailer, responded that online shoppers are identifiable by address and through payment providers, which he said is a “substantial consideration to discourage criminal intent.”
“This runs counter to the ability to anonymously purchase knives or machetes from physical stores using cash,” said the store’s founder, Joshua Chang.
“Therefore, I am confident that we serve as a responsible channel for the retail of knives as the details of the buyers are recorded. We have also assisted the police in stab crime investigations, ”he said.
Dr. Chang added that the store sells only permitted items.
As for Carousell, which is where the 16-year-old had intended to buy a machete, “trust and confidence” is of the utmost importance, he said.
His chief of staff, Su Lin Tan, said the platform does not allow the sale of items specified in its list of prohibited items.
Carousel striped machete that the youths intended to buy for the attacks. (Photo: ISD)
Responding to inquiries from the CNA, he added that Carousell uses manual and automated moderation to remove these listings, while continually updating its efforts “to spot the latest innovations from ever-evolving bad actors.”
“This is a unique situation that has presented a challenge. A machete is a commonly used tool for outdoor activities like camping and gardening, and is recognized as a permitted item, “he added.
But the incident that involved the teenager has been a “sharp reminder” that the platform must continue to review elements and situations in a comprehensive manner, he acknowledged.
“We have moved quickly to do a full sweep of our market and we are updating our content moderation methods and tools,” he told CNA.
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E-commerce platform Lazada said it also “issues guidelines to sellers on the products they can list, based on guidance from regulators.”
“We invested heavily in technology to filter products on the platform, which has led to a marked reduction in suspicious product listings and scams on Lazada,” a spokesperson told CNA.
Likewise, Shopee said it has a “strict zero tolerance approach to selling prohibited items” and requires sellers to comply with both local regulations and their own policies.
“All listings on Shopee must go through a series of evaluations, and listings not approved due to regulatory violations or other violations of our terms of use will be removed,” he said.
According to the police, their list of prohibited, controlled and allowed items is not exhaustive and advises people to seek clarification if they have questions about the status of certain items.
