Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk.
Not many people will have heard of Trading Standards, and the work they do protect us from fraudulent and misleading behaviour by individuals and businesses across a range of enterprises.
Suffolk Trading Standards are exemplars, being very proactive in addressing poor customer service and dangerous practices which could have a serious impact on people’s safety and finances.
In recent months, they have secured £50,000 in compensation for the victims of a mobility furniture company promising life-improving products, taking large deposits without delivering the goods. As a result of the Trading Standards investigation, following a number of complaints, the director of the business was found guilty of 15 counts of unfair commercial practice and sentenced to 32 months in prison by Ipswich Crown Court. He was also fined £15,000 and, during a second court appearance, the judge ruled that he repay £50,000 in proceeds from his crimes, which is being paid out to the elderly and disabled victims.
Praised for the successful outcome, Suffolk Trading Standards Head, Graham Crisp, commented:
“No compensation can undo the distress, but our officers worked tirelessly to protect local residents and ensure a level playing field for our county’s legitimate traders.”
In another case, following a lengthy and complex investigation, a farmer was convicted of fraudulently obtaining over £765,000 in credit from suppliers, including agricultural equipment stockists, landlords and vets, and animal suppliers between 2018 to 2020. Many of his lenders were small businesses, facing financial hardship as a direct result of the farmer’s dishonesty, misleading his creditors by using a series of delaying tactics to avoid repayment.
Graham Crisp was delighted that his team’s hard work brought about a successful prosecution.
That hard work was in evidence again this March, when the Imports Surveillance team at the Port of Felixstowe detained over 300 electrical heaters, having discovered that they posed a serious risk of electrocution after finding that the grills on them didn’t require tools to open, meaning that live and hazardous parts could be accessed by hand.
The supply voltage requirements stated on the heaters were also incompatible with the UK power network, posing a danger of explosion or electric shock.
Due to be sold via a major online retailer, ‘thanks to our intervention, the listing was withdrawn, saving shoppers from unwittingly putting themselves at risk,’ explained Graham Crisp.
‘Bargain purchases can leave you paying the ultimate price, with these increasing the risk of fire, serious injury, or even death. Everyone can keep themselves safe by only shopping at reputable retailers and checking that anything purchased meets safety standards.’
Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet member for Public Health & Protection, Cllr. Andrew Reid, added:
“Even legitimate heaters can pose a fire risk if not used sensibly. They should not be used for drying clothes, and must be kept away from curtains and furniture. They should never be plugged into an extension lead which could overheat.”
Alerted to another potential safety issue, over 350 items of substandard motorcycle personal protective equipment (PPE) were withdrawn from sale at a popular bike show, when Trading Standards deemed the products to be potentially dangerous, failing to comply with safety legislation.
Guidance had been issued to stallholders in the weeks before the show, making them aware of their responsibilities when selling PPE, with many grateful for the advice. ‘Visitors welcomed our presence on the day,’ confirms Gareth Crisp. ‘It was the first time they had ever received information on what to look out for when buying motorcycle clothing, reducing the risk of harm.’
Cllr. Reid thanked the show’s organiser for enabling Trading Standards’ attendance, ‘working with our officers to help get important messaging out, raising awareness of safety ratings required to be displayed on clothing items.’
With vaping considered ‘fashionable’, people are unaware that it is another safety issue.
Suffolk Trading Standards recently stopped the sale of dangerous vapes at premises in Ipswich, Felixstowe, and Lowestoft in their bid to tackle one of the top threats on the high street. Officers discovered over 370 vapes not meeting legal requirements, with some offering as many as 10,000 puffs, when the legal vape would offer around 600.
Criminals are capitalising on demand, leading to a rise in illegal vapes, which can contain high levels of nicotine, contaminants, or banned ingredients such as taurine or caffeine. Some are increasingly targeting underage children, enticed by colourful packaging and sweet flavours.
“We have seen a considerable increase in vapes which do not meet health guidelines, which could result in respiratory problems, heart and lung damage, or even death,” explains Graham Crisp:
“We will continue to carry out spot checks on retailers across Suffolk, taking legal action where necessary, with tough penalties for businesses flouting the laws designed to protect the public.”
Cllr. Reid notes that:
“Vapes help smokers to quit, but they should only purchase products from reputable retailers and question strange looking packaging.
“It is also important that vapes should never be used by children, who are more susceptible to becoming addicted to nicotine and the damage this can cause to brains and lungs. All liquids should come in childproof bottles.”
Underage alcohol sales are another issue being addressed by Suffolk Trading Standards, leading to a 48 hour closure notice being served on a shop in Ipswich last December, banning it from selling alcohol to anyone during that period, following an investigation and written warning.
“We always work with businesses to help them comply with legislation, but cannot turn a blind eye to someone repeatedly breaking the law,” explains Graham Crisp.
“This action will hopefully act as a deterrent to other shops in Suffolk, which may be tempted to make underage sales without realising the consequences.”
As Cllr. Reid says:
“The continued work of Trading Standards protects Suffolk’s communities and the health and wellbeing of future generations. They are an essential service for sustaining consumer confidence.”