TSI Manifesto 2010

Strengthening community safety

T

rading standards address some of the greatest concerns and vulnerabilities

of the public. A vital role is undertaken by local authority trading standards services as trusted providers in the arena of

community safety, taking action to: n prevent people being victims of commercial crime in their own homes

n disrupt traders from operating in the informal economy

n prevent harm to children and nuisance caused by young people accessing age-restricted goods Across the UK, joint working and sharing of resources has been established. Trading standards work with a range of partners and often take part in multi- agency raids alongside the police, HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Transport, and Environmental Health Officers. Trading standards are

increasingly coming into contact with major criminal rings, both national and international – there are proven links between the sale of counterfeit goods in a local area and large-scale terrorist organisations and people- trafficking. One example of the crucial role of trading standards, especially in

relation to the most vulnerable in our society, is in the fight against scams. Three regional pilot Scambuster

teams employing specialist staff from local authority trading standards services were launched in 2006. Their success resulted in teams being formed throughout the UK.

In five years the anti-loan shark teams, staffed by specialist trading standards officers working closely with the police, secured successful prosecutions which resulted in sentences totalling more than 60 years for illegal money lending and related criminal activity, including assault, wounding, kidnapping, blackmail and possession of firearms.

12 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Press Release, 2008.

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Research by the OFT found that mass-marketed scams were costing UK consumers £3.5billion a year12.

Similarly, illegal money lending

enforcement teams were formed across Great Britain in September 2007 after hugely successful pilot projects in Birmingham and Glasgow.

As part of protecting consumers in their homes, TSI launched No Cold Calling Zones (NCCZ) in 2005 as a tool for local authorities, Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12