Edmonton police say they have made progress on a troubled strip in the city's north end, convincing some storeowners to stop selling knives and drug paraphernalia.

The crackdown on knife sales came after a 12-year-old boy was able to buy a machete at a store on 118th Avenue, officials told a city police commission meeting on Thursday night.

'We never even fathomed that material was available' —social worker Kris Andreychuk

After the boy was found with the weapon, police discovered there were six businesses in the area selling drug paraphernalia and knives, including machetes

"Just the fact that some people were carrying them -- especially machetes and swords in an area in the city -- that's a concern, especially on 118 Avenue," said Const. Stephan Vachon-Zee.

Together, Vachon-Zee, social worker Kris Andreychuk and a team of local community leaders and merchants pressured storeowners on the avenue.

The group "tried to get their moral compass," Vachon-Zee said, adding that the stores in question were urged to "make their own decisions to stop the sale of these items."

"Nothing they're doing is illegal," Vachon-Zee said.

"It's just making community appeals. Our most recent one is a letter-writing campaign, where we're going door-to-door, every business on 118th Avenue asking that they sign this letter and ask them, as well, to stop," he said.

So far four of six businesses have stopped selling knives, the meeting was told. As well, one drug shop has stopped selling scales and baggies, often used for dealing drugs.

"Folks in the community feel safer knowing there's a reduced availability of drug paraphernalia and weapons," Vachon-Zee said.

Andreychuk and Vachon-Zee said their goal now is to get other city neighbourhoods to adopt their approach.