THE sale of Batman badges at HMV in Chichester 'glamorising' knives has been branded 'sickening' by an anti-knife crime campaigner.
The badge, which showed the face of Batman's enemy the Joker circled by 12 knives, has been condemned by Hunston resident Mark Chapman.
It has since been withdrawn from sale by HMV.
Mr Chapman set up an internet blog campaigning against knife c
rime after witnessing Jackie Marshall being stabbed to death at McDonald's in Chichester in 2005.
"The sale of such products is sickening and really ought to stop," he said.
"It does amaze me there are people who are glamorising knives in the commercial industry. The message clearly has not got through."
The badges were spotted by shopper Nadia Cooke who saw them next to the till at the Chichester branch of HMV in East Street, while with her 11-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother.
Mr Chapman added: "It is surprising that commercial organisations still seem to want to put knives into a retail area and believe that is the way to sell products. I am annoyed and angry about it."
Mr Chapman has been updating his internet blog several times a week for the past three years since the death of Mrs Marshall.
He said: "I have memories of it quite regularly, it was very upsetting, and difficult when someone practically dies in your arms. How are you supposed to come to terms with that?"
An HMV spokesman said: "The badge in question is part of a range officially licensed from the Dark Knight/Batman film franchise, and is stocked by various retailers.
"A number of our stores had been merchandising it on a 'badge spinner' unit at adult eye height, along with many other designs, so we do not believe it was being displayed in an irresponsible manner, nor were we targeting children as some sensationalised and imbalanced media reports suggested.
"While we do not believe that HMV should censor the choice that it makes available to its customers, we recognise the particular sensitivities surrounding this issue at the present time, and have therefore withdrawn the item from sale."
To read Mr Chapman's blog visit
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The full article contains 439 words and appears in OS-Chichester Observer newspaper.
