NEWS EXTRA NEWS EX NEWS EX


XTRA


SELLING ACID:


cid attacks have become a hot topic of late and plenty of questions ar e being asked as to how these violent crimes can be pr evented,


with the main issue being how to stop perpetrators getting their hands on the corr osive substances in the first place. However , with many of theser,, with man chemicals an ingr edient in everyday items that ar e easily and r egularly purchased from a hardware/DIY shop, supermarket or corner store, just what can be done to restrict sales of these products in the way sales of knives have been? After all, ther e is no legislation in place to effect and, even if it wer e, is it


that ff possible to enfor ce it? Home Office Minister


The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says it is working with the r,, officials and


police on a voluntary approach to restricting access to sales of corrosives.


“Acids and alkalis are used in a wide range of everyday household and DIY pr oducts and have the potential to cause injury if misused. BRC members have alr eady stopped selling concentrated sulphuric acid- based substances altogether but we believe the most ef fective way to tackle this is to ensure a consistent approach across


the industry by


intr oducing restrictions on the sale of highly corrosive substances.” A Mica Har dware member was appr oached by the BBC to meet with one victim of an acid attack after the big multiples r efused to put forward anyone to have this (obviously difficult) conversation. The emotionally-charged interview was r ecorded as part of Adrian Chiles’ Radio 5 Live pr ogramme, which was broadcast on August 7. Daniel Rotariu had received third degr ee burns to his face and neck when his then partner pour ed half a litre of sulphuric acid over him as he slept and he is still coming to terms with life-changing injuries,


6 DIY WEEK 25 AUGUST 2017


WHO CARRIES THE CAN? A


With acid attacks hitting the headlines, just how much control do retailers have over who buys corrosive substances from their stores and where does the responsibility lie f or restricting sales? Sue Deane reports


including the loss of his sight. Joyce Hall, manager of a Halls Mica Hardware store in Chapel- en-le-Frith, Derbyshir e met up with Mr Rotariu and was clearly upset by his terrible injuries.


Ta Taking product o aking product off the shelf


“Even before we met I had been taking a fresh look at the way we displayed and sold cleaning products in our stor es considering the r ecent acid attacks,” said Mrs Hall. To


was quite shocking. W


“To see the results of this myself ng. We had alr eady


We


moved products of concern from the shelves so that customers have to ask for them. We


“We then enquir e what it is to be used for and highlight the dangers and, where possible, suggest an


including the loss of his sight.


alternative pr


alternative pr oduct. It helps that, being a small country town, we know most of our customers so would be alerted to a stranger coming in and asking for a sulphuric-acid based product - but what about retailers in a big city where people move around a lot?” Sulphuric acid is present in many products used in a wide range of applications from hairdressing through to heavy industry, and container


y, a of drain cleaner


(typically 96% sulphuric acid) for example, can be bought in a high street hardware store for less than £5. There are currently no legal restrictions to purchasing such substanc es – you don ’t need to be registered and retailers are no longer r equired to be licensed to


trade in them. However underr,, guidance from the Home Office, traders must report any suspicious transactions of sulphuric acid to a national contact point or email the details to chemical.reporting@met. police.uk


advice


The Home Office has issued and


to help retailers


merchants recognise suspicious transactions. Initially devised for the sale of products used to make explosive devices; the guidelines were revised this year and offer tips on the type of behaviour to look out for. Yo at


You can read more www.gov.uk/government/


publ i cat ions/s e l l - chemi cal - products-responsibly along with a download for a record of suspicious transactions.


www.diyweek.net


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