Margaret Moran, Labour MP for Luton South, has introduced a bill to Parliament to force retailers to take responsibility for illegal sales.
Moran claimed remote purchasing allowed children and young people to get their hands on items they could not buy in shops.
"Sadly, self regulation is not working," she said. "I believe that online retailers selling alcohol, knives or pornography to under-age children should face a hefty fine or even imprisonment if they fail to put in place procedures to check the age of their customers."
The private members bill has received its first reading in Parliament, and is due to have its second reading on 16 May.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here