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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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‘Ruthless’ scam targets bereaved

Posted: 06 June 2025

UPDATES: Fraudsters are exploiting online funeral notices to target grieving families with convincing payment requests. Trading Standards has issued a stark warning and explains the simple checks that can prevent mourners becoming victims of this cruel scam.
 

Opinion: My faith and my profession

Posted: 04 June 2025

OPINION: Personal faith and professional duty need not exist in separate worlds. Reflecting on life as a practising Muslim working in Trading Standards, this thoughtful piece explores the shared values of integrity, fairness, service and accountability that underpin both.
 

CTSI calls for action on 'ghost plates'

Posted: 03 June 2025

UPDATES: CTSI is urging tougher action against so-called 'ghost plates' that allow drivers to evade detection by ANPR cameras. The growing availability of these illegal number plates raises significant concerns for road safety and law enforcement.
 

CPPD Module 28: CCHB

Posted: 28 May 2025

DEVELOPMENT: The Consumer Code for Home Builders explains how independent oversight, clear standards and effective redress help protect homebuyers. This CPPD module examines the Code's requirements, practical operation and the role it plays in raising standards across the sector.
 

Resident rescued from rogue roofer

Posted: 27 May 2025

UPDATES: A routine roofing repair escalated into an alleged rogue trading scam that left a resident facing a vastly inflated bill. The successful prosecution highlights the importance of reporting high-pressure doorstep practices and protecting vulnerable consumers.
 

Repeat offender car dealer jailed

Posted: 27 May 2025

UPDATES: A persistent rogue car dealer has been jailed after repeatedly breaching court orders and continuing unlawful trading activities. The case demonstrates the determination of Trading Standards to pursue repeat offenders through the courts.
 

Hefty fine for fake watch seller

Posted: 27 May 2025

UPDATES: Counterfeit luxury watches worth thousands of pounds were seized following a Trading Standards investigation into a jewellery retailer. The prosecution underlines the continuing effort to disrupt the sale of fake branded goods.
 

Children 'at risk' from nail kits

Posted: 26 May 2025

UPDATES: A 12-year-old's serious burns from a false nail kit bought on Temu have sharpened warnings about unsafe beauty products sold online. CTSI links the case to its Cost of Beauty campaign, urging parents, professionals and regulators to confront the risks posed by unregulated cosmetics marketed to young consumers.
 

Nicotine pouches: Suck it and see

Posted: 26 May 2025

ANALYSIS: Nicotine pouches have moved from a regulatory blind spot to a growing enforcement concern, with Trading Standards teams seizing non-compliant products while ministers prepare age-of-sale, advertising and display restrictions. The piece weighs youth appeal, addiction risks, labelling failures, lab-test findings and the challenge of regulating a fast-moving market before it repeats the mistakes seen with vapes.
 

Analysis: More than skin deep

Posted: 26 May 2025

ANALYSIS: The pursuit of cosmetic perfection continues to fuel demand for increasingly risky beauty products. Examining emerging trends and unsafe treatments, this feature considers the consumer protection challenges facing regulators and enforcement officers.
 

An intelligent approach to AI

Posted: 26 May 2025

ANALYSIS: Artificial intelligence is already raising practical, legal and ethical questions for Trading Standards, from model welfare and rogue AI agents to bias, data protection and hallucinated outputs. This piece cuts through the hype and offers grounded advice on using prompts, examples, sentiment flags and follow-up questioning to make AI tools more useful without surrendering professional judgement.
 

Analysis: Crying out for change

Posted: 26 May 2025

ANALYSIS: Considers whether current animal welfare legislation and enforcement powers remain fit for purpose, exploring the growing pressures on Trading Standards and the wider case for reform.
 

Opinion: Staying sharp

Posted: 26 May 2025

OPINION: Reflects on the rapidly changing challenges facing the profession and argues that continuous learning, adaptability and collaboration are essential if Trading Standards is to remain effective.
 

An opportunity for change?

Posted: 26 May 2025

OPINION: English devolution and local government reorganisation could reshape where Trading Standards sits, how it is funded and how quickly local regulators can act. The piece argues that reform offers a chance to rebuild place-based services, strengthen collaboration with other regulators and address practical questions around boundaries, court action, recovered funds and closure powers.
 

Opinion: Let's look outward

Posted: 26 May 2025

OPINION: Argues that stronger partnerships, wider engagement and greater visibility beyond the profession will help Trading Standards demonstrate its value and strengthen its long-term influence.
 

Opinion: Playing the blame game

Posted: 26 May 2025

OPINION: Challenges simplistic narratives around consumer protection failures, examining where responsibility truly lies and why effective regulation depends on shared accountability.
 

CTSI sounds alarm on unsafe cosmetics

Posted: 19 May 2025

UPDATES: Reports growing concern over unsafe cosmetic products, including nasal tanning sprays, highlighting the risks to consumers and the need for stronger enforcement action.
 

Stop Loan Sharks Week kicks off

Posted: 19 May 2025

UPDATES: Covers the launch of the national campaign raising awareness of illegal money lending, the harm caused to vulnerable communities and the support available to victims.
 

Counterfeit trader pleads guilty

Posted: 19 May 2025

UPDATES: Reports on the successful prosecution of an online trader dealing in counterfeit goods, underlining the ongoing efforts to protect consumers and legitimate businesses.
 

IPTV pirates to give back £410,000

Posted: 13 May 2025

UPDATES: Details the outcome of a major investigation into illegal IPTV services, with substantial confiscation orders reinforcing the financial consequences of organised intellectual property crime.