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Journal of Trading Standards, Online Edition - JoTS Online

Welcome to the Journal of Trading Standards online edition, JoTS Online. Browse through our latest Articles - including Analysis, Opinion Pieces, Features and a selection of articles from our acclaimed print journal.

Although many JoTS Online articles are open access (public), others are exclusive to CTSI Members - in which case, you'll need to login to access them. If you aren't a member of CTSI yet, you can join us here. And, if you'd like to contribute articles or suggest topics for us to cover, please email our Editorial Team.


Latest JoTS Online Articles : 

News Category Tags: Crime, Product Safety, Health and Safety, Counterfeit Goods, Retail, Animal Health and Welfare, Legal and Policy, Enforcement Practice, Product Recalls, Property and Housing, Automotive, Vapes, Business, CTSI Conference, CTSI Hero Awards.


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Leicestershire TS: Workers Sentenced in Tobacco Case

Posted: 03 June 2026


UPDATES: Two shop workers have been sentenced after admitting offences linked to the sale of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes from a Loughborough store. The case marks the fifth successful prosecution under Operation Hind, a county-wide crackdown on illegal tobacco and vaping products ...

Leicestershire TS: Fans to Beware Fake Merchandise

Posted: 22 May 2026


UPDATES: With the World Cup fast approaching, Leicestershire Trading Standards has seized hundreds of suspected counterfeit goods - including fake England shirts, unsafe toys and illegal vapes - in a major raid at Measham Car Boot Sale. One man has been arrested as officials warn fans that bargain football kits could come with hidden dangers ...

Leicestershire TS: Tackling High Street Criminals

Posted: 09 April 2026


UPDATES: A Loughborough shop has been prosecuted after repeatedly selling illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco - despite multiple warnings. Hidden stock, undercover test purchases, and links to potentially dangerous substances paint a troubling picture ...

Leicestershire TS: Farmer Fined £11,000 for Breaches

Posted: 09 February 2026


UPDATES: A Leicestershire cattle farmer has been fined nearly £11,000 after admitting serious breaches of livestock movement and TB testing laws. Authorities say repeated failures put animal health, the food chain and the rural economy at risk - with dozens of cattle entering the food chain without proper notification ...

Unsafe Cosmetics in East Midlands

Posted: 26 August 2025


UPDATES: Trading Standards teams across the East Midlands have uncovered alarming levels of unsafe cosmetic products on sale, with more than three quarters failing safety checks. From banned ingredients linked to cancer and reproductive harm to dangerously high chemical levels, the findings reveal serious risks for consumers - and stark differences between national chains and independent retailers ...

£258,000 Illicit Tobacco Haul

Posted: 26 August 2025


UPDATES: Trading Standards officers in North Northamptonshire have seized illicit tobacco worth an estimated £258,000 from a self-storage unit in Kettering. Acting on community intelligence, officers uncovered thousands of illegal cigarettes and tobacco products in a joint operation with police - highlighting the links between illegal tobacco, organised crime and risks to public health ...

 

£258,000 illicit tobacco haul

Posted: 26 August 2025

UPDATES: A joint operation between North Northamptonshire Trading Standards and local police has removed illicit tobacco worth an estimated £258,000 from circulation after intelligence led officers to a self-storage unit in Kettering. The case highlights the continuing links between illicit tobacco, organised crime and the vital role community intelligence plays in disrupting criminal activity.
 

Unsafe cosmetics in East Midlands

Posted: 26 August 2025

UPDATES: A coordinated Trading Standards project across the East Midlands uncovered widespread non-compliance in cosmetic products sold by retailers. The findings reinforce the need for continued enforcement and retailer awareness to help protect consumers from products containing banned or potentially harmful ingredients.

Lincs TS: Record Tobacco Seizure

Posted: 01 August 2025


UPDATES: Lincolnshire Trading Standards has carried out its largest-ever illegal tobacco seizure, removing more than 320,000 illicit cigarettes and 165kg of hand rolling tobacco in coordinated raids with police. Two shops were closed for three months as officers warned of links to organised crime, public safety risks and serious fire hazards ...

 

Lincs TS: record tobacco seizure

Posted: 01 August 2025

UPDATES: Lincolnshire Trading Standards has carried out its largest ever seizure of illegal tobacco and vapes, leading to closure orders for two premises and highlighting the continuing fight against the illicit market.

Jail Sentence for Fake Goods Seller

Posted: 24 July 2025


UPDATES: Two women who built a lucrative counterfeit goods operation on Facebook Marketplace have been sentenced after a Trading Standards investigation uncovered fake designer items worth tens of thousands of pounds. Despite clear warnings, the illegal trade continued - ending with one woman jailed for over two years and a stark warning about the scale and harm of counterfeit crime ...

 

Jail sentence for fake goods seller

Posted: 24 July 2025

UPDATES: Two counterfeiters who generated hundreds of thousands of pounds selling fake designer goods through social media have been jailed following a Trading Standards investigation, highlighting the scale and consequences of organised online counterfeiting.
 

Repeat offender car dealer jailed

Posted: 17 April 2025

UPDATES: Persistent offending ends in a custodial sentence, demonstrating the consequences for traders who repeatedly flout consumer protection law and mislead buyers.
 

Jail sentence for illicit tobacco seller

Posted: 19 March 2025

UPDATES: A lengthy investigation into the illegal tobacco trade has resulted in a substantial prison sentence, demonstrating the determination of Trading Standards to disrupt organised criminal activity.
 

Electric blankets tested for safety

Posted: 05 November 2024

UPDATES: Nottinghamshire Trading Standards and fire officers found 170 of 282 electric blankets tested at local events were unsafe, prompting renewed warnings on ageing products, visible damage and the fire risks facing vulnerable residents.
 

Notts TS seizes 1,400 illegal vapes

Posted: 21 October 2024

UPDATES: Enforcement action against two Newark shops resulted in the seizure of more than 1,400 illegal vapes, underlining continued efforts to tackle illicit products.
 

Hefty fine for Asda's food safety failures

Posted: 21 October 2024

UPDATES: A prosecution over food displayed months beyond its use-by date ended with a £250,000 fine for Asda, illustrating the consequences of serious food safety failures.
 

Apprentice of the year recognised

Posted: 23 July 2024

UPDATES: Ali Walker of Leicestershire Trading Standards has been named CTSI National Apprentice of the Year after leading successful work against illegal tobacco, embracing professional training and demonstrating the impact apprenticeships can have across the profession.
 

Vapes seized after children taken ill

Posted: 10 July 2024

UPDATES: More than 1,000 illegal vapes have been seized from Nottingham businesses after reports that local schoolchildren were hospitalised, highlighting continuing concerns over the availability of illicit vaping products.
 

Huge tobacco seizure in Derbyshire

Posted: 24 June 2024

UPDATES: Derbyshire Trading Standards has seized illicit cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and vapes worth more than £255,000, with officers uncovering major hauls in South Derbyshire and Chesterfield as part of continuing work to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade.
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