TRADING Standards are protecting the names of dozens of businesses caught selling cigarettes, fireworks and even knives to children in case it hurts firms’ takings.

Figures obtained by the Oxford Mail show 27 out of 85 premises checked by under 17s as part of trading standards stings over a year sold age-restricted items.

But Oxfordshire County Council refused to release the premises’ names as this might “harm the commercial interests of another person” and in case there were court cases if they break the law again.

But last night the authority was criticised, saying firms which broke the law should not be protected to safeguard profits.

Karis Daniels, whose brother Blayne Ridgway, 22, was stabbed to death outside Oxford’s Que Pasa bar in May 2010, said: “Sometimes, if people are named and shamed it means they think they have to change their ways.

“If nothing is done about it then they might keep doing what they are doing.”

Of the eight premises tested for knife sales, three failed, resulting in two warning letters and a police caution.

Retailers caught for selling other goods got a warning letter.

Council Liberal Democrat leader Zoe Patrick said: “The public have a right to know if businesses are not complying with the law.”

The names and addresses were requested in a Freedom of Information request by the Oxford Mail.

But the council said the act exempted the names as tests were “for the purpose of criminal investigations and potential criminal proceedings”.

And it said: “Its release may harm the commercial interests of another person.”

It said a failed test might not be an “accurate reflection” of whether the premises is currently selling to underage youngsters and shops could have changed ownership.

It said the information would provide no “context or explanation” of the sale and could see the owner accused of a criminal offence despite it not reaching a court.

Yet other public authorities have published the names of shops which failed their tests.

Thames Valley Police recently said Nine2nine in North Parade Avenue, East Oxford, sold alcohol to a teen on October 7.

West Oxfordshire District Council named five premises which sold drink to 14-year-old girls last month, including Witney’s Red Lion in Corn Street. Landlady Joan Cove said the barman thought the girls were older as they were “tall” and appeared to be in a couple with two men, actually undercover officers.

She said of the stings: “I don’t have a problem with it all. I think the people they choose, the way it is done can be misleading.

“If it is a regular occurrence then, yes, it should be made public. If it is a one-off, a mistake, which I believe this one to be, then no.”

Our figures show 11 premises were tested for fireworks and four failed; 63 for cigarettes with 18 failures; and two for cigarette vending mach-ines, both of which failed.

County spokesman Paul Smith said: “Shop owners should be aware these tests happen and we urge them to abide by the law at all times.”