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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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Illicit tobacco haul in Tower Hamlets

Posted: 03 January 2024

UPDATES: Tower Hamlets Trading Standards uncovered a significant cache of illicit tobacco and oversized vapes hidden in secret compartments during pre-Christmas raids. The seizure forms part of wider efforts to disrupt organised criminal supply networks.
 

Staffs TS nabs illegal cigarettes & vapes

Posted: 03 January 2024

UPDATES: Staffordshire Trading Standards has intensified its crackdown on illegal tobacco and oversized vapes through national enforcement operations, with fresh seizures adding to a growing haul of illicit products removed from local businesses.
 

Warks TS seizes banned US candy

Posted: 22 December 2023

UPDATES: Warwickshire Trading Standards has removed imported American sweets and drinks containing additives banned in the UK, reinforcing warnings about non-compliant confectionery that continues to reach retailers despite potential health risks.
 

CTSI sounds alarm on council funding

Posted: 20 December 2023

UPDATES: CTSI is urging ministers to rethink local government funding proposals, warning that further financial pressure on councils could weaken already stretched Trading Standards services and leave consumers increasingly exposed to harm.
 

Obituary: James Williams

Posted: 18 December 2023

UPDATES: Friends and colleagues remember James Williams as a larger-than-life Trading Standards officer whose humour, determination and unforgettable exploits were matched by a lifelong commitment to protecting consumers and supporting the profession.
 

CCHB marks five year milestone

Posted: 13 December 2023

UPDATES: The Consumer Code for Home Builders celebrates five years as a CTSI Approved Code after another successful audit, with independent reviewers and auditors recognising its commitment to continual improvement and stronger consumer protection.
 

Loft insulation scammers jailed

Posted: 13 December 2023

UPDATES: Herefordshire Trading Standards secured jail sentences for two men behind a spray foam loft insulation scam that targeted elderly homeowners through illegal cold calls, leaving victims facing inflated bills, restricted cancellation rights and homes that became difficult to sell.
 

Whisky investment ads misled

Posted: 01 December 2023

UPDATES: Authorities are warning consumers about misleading whisky investment promotions after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that social media adverts overstated likely returns, downplayed risks and failed to explain charges attached to unregulated cask investments.
 

Pirate DVD seller ordered to pay up

Posted: 28 November 2023

UPDATES: A prolific counterfeit DVD seller has been ordered to repay more than £216,000 after a major Proceeds of Crime case uncovered an elaborate network of online accounts, bank accounts and storage units used to distribute fake goods and launder criminal profits.
 

Farmers guilty of cruelty offences

Posted: 28 November 2023

UPDATES: Staffordshire Trading Standards prosecuted two farmers after inspectors found sheep suffering in appalling conditions despite repeated advice and formal notices, leading to suspended prison sentences and significant costs orders for multiple animal welfare offences.
 

CTSI Hero Awards 2023

Posted: 28 November 2023

UPDATES: The CTSI Hero Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across the trading standards profession, recognising individuals and teams whose work has delivered exceptional consumer protection, innovation and public service during the past year.
 

Anti-scam toolkit for students launches

Posted: 21 November 2023

UPDATES: A new Student Scams Toolkit aims to help young people recognise the frauds most likely to target them, offering practical guidance on everything from rental and employment scams to online shopping and romance fraud before losses occur.
 

H&F TS tackles football rip-offs

Posted: 16 November 2023

UPDATES: Persistent action against illegal football merchandise sellers has resulted in another successful prosecution, as Hammersmith and Fulham Trading Standards continues its campaign to protect supporters and legitimate traders on matchdays around Stamford Bridge.
 

No place to hide for illicit tobacco

Posted: 16 November 2023

UPDATES: Derby Trading Standards is uncovering increasingly sophisticated hiding places for illicit tobacco and illegal vapes, with Operation CeCe raids exposing concealed stock worth thousands of pounds despite elaborate hydraulic compartments designed to evade detection.
 

Brighton & Hove rogue warning

Posted: 14 November 2023

UPDATES: Brighton and Hove Trading Standards is urging residents to stay alert after a sharp increase in complaints about rogue builders, highlighting the devastating financial losses, poor workmanship and doorstep tactics that continue to target householders.
 

Warning to shops that broke law

Posted: 13 November 2023

UPDATES: North Lanarkshire Trading Standards has warned retailers after test purchases revealed repeated illegal sales of cigarettes and vapes to under-18s, prompting fixed penalties, proposed banning orders and further enforcement visits.
 

FSA raises workforce capacity concerns

Posted: 09 November 2023

UPDATES: The Food Standards Agency's Our Food 2022 report highlights mounting workforce shortages affecting Trading Standards and Environmental Health. CTSI and CIEH say sustained investment is essential if food standards enforcement and consumer protection are to remain effective.
 

'Greedy' rogue builder jailed

Posted: 08 November 2023

UPDATES: A rogue builder who financed luxury spending by defrauding householders has been jailed following a Trading Standards investigation. The case highlights the scale of consumer harm caused by repeat offenders and the persistence needed to bring complex frauds before the courts.
 

Illicit tobacco couple plead guilty

Posted: 06 November 2023

UPDATES: An Oxfordshire couple have admitted selling illicit tobacco and cigarettes through Facebook after a Trading Standards investigation uncovered illegal products at their home. The prosecution underlines continuing efforts to disrupt organised illicit tobacco sales.
 

Essex TS concludes complex fraud case

Posted: 01 November 2023

UPDATES: Essex Trading Standards has concluded its largest-ever fraud investigation, working with National Trading Standards and regional partners to secure guilty verdicts in a complex case involving extensive consumer fraud and years of investigative work.