Login
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.
Consumer Scotland eyes green sector
Posted: 24 July 2024
UPDATES: Consumer Scotland has begun a wide-ranging review of the domestic energy-efficiency market, seeking evidence of misleading practices, weak consumer protections and barriers to confidence as millions of homes prepare for the transition to cleaner heating.
Cornwall takes on high-pressure sales
Posted: 24 July 2024
UPDATES: Cornwall Trading Standards is warning residents about doorstep jet-washing traders who lure homeowners with free demonstrations before pressuring them into paying vastly inflated prices, with older people believed to be among those most frequently targeted.
Staffordshire TS: rogue traders guilty
Posted: 24 July 2024
UPDATES: A five-year Trading Standards investigation ended with prison sentences for rogue traders who defrauded vulnerable homeowners of substantial sums through unfinished home improvement work, exposing how customer deposits were diverted to fund a lavish lifestyle.
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.
Highland cattle scam site warning
Posted: 22 July 2024
UPDATES: Fraudsters posing as Highland cattle sellers used the address of a country park to lure buyers into a sophisticated online scam. Trading Standards acted quickly to expose the deception and shut down a website already linked to previous livestock and puppy frauds.
CTSI welcomes new Gov't plans
Posted: 22 July 2024
UPDATES: CTSI has welcomed the Government's proposed consumer protection reforms but warns that stronger laws on renters' rights, product safety, tobacco and vapes will achieve little unless Trading Standards receives the funding needed to enforce them.
CMA examines trusted trader sites
Posted: 17 July 2024
UPDATES: The CMA has opened a consultation on trader recommendation platforms amid concerns over misleading endorsements, inadequate vetting and weak complaints processes. The review seeks views on improving standards and consumer confidence across the sector.
Illegal vapes down the drain
Posted: 16 July 2024
UPDATES: Illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes hidden inside a working drain were uncovered during Operation CeCe, prompting Darlington Trading Standards to highlight the health risks and criminality associated with buying illicit products.
Shop fined for underage vape sale
Posted: 16 July 2024
UPDATES: A West Croydon retailer has been fined more than £2,500 after selling a vape to an underage volunteer during a test purchase, reinforcing the importance of age-restriction enforcement and responsible retailing.
Criminal 'predator' gang jailed
Posted: 16 July 2024
UPDATES: A long-running North Yorkshire Trading Standards investigation has brought down a gang of rogue builders who defrauded elderly homeowners of more than £1.2m, exposing the devastating scale of organised doorstep crime.
Hefty fine for food safety faker
Posted: 15 July 2024
UPDATES: Falsified Salmonella testing certificates led to a food business owner being fined more than £50,000 after an investigation by the Food Standards Agency and Trading Standards uncovered serious breaches of food safety controls.
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.
Kent TS nabs tobacco and vapes
Posted: 10 July 2024
UPDATES: Joint action by Kent Trading Standards and Kent Police resulted in the seizure of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco from Dover businesses following intelligence from the local community about suspected illicit sales.
Oxfordshire TS jails rogue traders
Posted: 10 July 2024
UPDATES: Two rogue traders who exploited an elderly Oxfordshire resident out of more than £477,000 have been jailed after a major Trading Standards investigation uncovered years of fraudulent home improvement work.
Seeing the big picture
Posted: 10 July 2024
ANALYSIS: Effective enforcement depends on more than individual casework. Examining intelligence gathering across Trading Standards, this feature explores why incidents go unreported, how fragmented data weakens consumer protection, and why better collaboration and analysis are essential for identifying emerging risks and directing resources where they are needed most.
Time to speak out on harassment
Posted: 10 July 2024
ANALYSIS: Abuse, intimidation and harassment have become an increasingly familiar part of frontline Trading Standards work. Drawing on practitioner experiences, survey findings and expert opinion, this feature examines the scale of the problem, its impact on officers and the practical steps needed to create safer working environments.
Paying the price for poor legislation
Posted: 10 July 2024
ANALYSIS: Animal health and welfare enforcement carries profound consequences for public health, farming and consumer confidence, yet outdated legislation continues to frustrate effective action. This analysis considers where the legal framework falls short and argues for reforms that would give enforcement officers the powers modern challenges demand.
Special report: Food for thought
Posted: 10 July 2024
ANALYSIS: Food allergies can make accurate labelling a matter of life and death. This special report investigates the responsibilities of manufacturers, retailers and regulators, explores continuing weaknesses in allergen information, and considers how legislation, technology and enforcement can work together to better protect consumers.
Inspiring new recruits
Posted: 08 July 2024
ANALYSIS: Encouraging more young people into Trading Standards requires visibility as well as opportunity. Reporting from a careers event organised with the REACH Society, this feature highlights efforts to broaden recruitment, improve representation and introduce the profession to talented future officers from diverse backgrounds.
Help is at hand for UK consumers
Posted: 08 July 2024
OPINION: Cross-border shopping, online marketplaces and increasingly sophisticated scams have made consumer protection more complex than ever. This opinion piece highlights the practical support available through the UK International Consumer Centre team and explains why international cooperation remains vital for resolving disputes.
