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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LTS: Tackling rogue letting agents

Posted: 21 September 2018

UPDATES: London Trading Standards found widespread failures by letting agents to display legally required fees and client money protection information, while enforcement action continues against rogue operators breaching consumer law.

LTS Week highlights car safety

Posted: 14 September 2018

UPDATES: Research by London Trading Standards uncovered recalled, clocked, uninsured and untaxed used cars advertised online, alongside practical advice to help consumers avoid unsafe and misrepresented vehicles.

Underage sales big challenge in London

Posted: 14 September 2018

ANALYSIS: Test purchasing across London reveals continuing illegal sales of knives, alcohol and tobacco to children, underlining the need for coordinated enforcement with police and retailers to tackle youth harm and knife crime.

LTS saves Londoners £2m a year

Posted: 12 September 2018

UPDATES: London Trading Standards highlights how partnership working against doorstep crime and fraud has saved residents around £2 million while protecting vulnerable consumers through rapid intervention, training and community engagement.

Fighting fake goods on social media

Posted: 12 September 2018

UPDATES: The Real Deal Online initiative works with social media group administrators and trading standards services to curb counterfeit goods by promoting a voluntary code of practice and stronger online enforcement.

Sale of unsafe tyres widespread

Posted: 02 September 2018

UPDATES: Joint investigations by TyreSafe and trading standards found unsafe part-worn tyres on sale at most retailers visited, exposing motorists to serious risks and prompting renewed calls for tougher compliance across the sector.

Illegal skin whitener seller jailed

Posted: 24 August 2018

UPDATES: Southwark's prosecution of a repeat seller of banned skin-lightening products has led to the first jail sentence of its kind, after online test purchases uncovered cosmetics containing dangerous levels of hydroquinone.

EU data roaming charges post-Brexit

Posted: 16 August 2018

ANALYSIS: Free EU data roaming had quickly become part of ordinary travel for UK consumers, but Brexit raised difficult questions over reciprocal network agreements, wholesale charges and whether existing protections could survive outside the Digital Single Market.

Devon plumber sentenced for fraud

Posted: 13 August 2018

UPDATES: A North Devon plumber has received suspended jail sentences, fines and compensation orders after trading standards uncovered fraudulent invoicing, excessive charges and unsafe work carried out while he was still on licence for earlier offences.

Car dealer guilty of clocking offence

Posted: 13 August 2018

UPDATES: A Bournemouth second-hand car dealer has been ordered to compensate a customer after selling a VW Transporter advertised at 89,000 miles that was later found to have travelled more than 243,000 miles.

Blackburn livestock auction fined

Posted: 10 August 2018

UPDATES: Gisburn Auction Marts has been found guilty after 35 lame sheep were placed in sale pens, with the court identifying procedural failures that could have allowed unfit animals to be sold.

Dangerous hoverboards seized

Posted: 10 August 2018

UPDATES: North East Lincolnshire trading standards officers seized 550 unsafe hoverboards before distribution, after tests found poor internal construction, defective electrical components, missing markings and other safety risks in products aimed at children.

Package holiday rules updated

Posted: 03 August 2018

UPDATES: New package travel rules extend consumer protection to holidays built through online linked bookings, giving travellers clearer rights on cancellation, insolvency, liability and repatriation when flights, accommodation or other services are combined.

Weeding out cowboy gardeners

Posted: 03 August 2018

UPDATES: Warwickshire residents are being urged to steer clear of rogue doorstep gardeners after reports of poor workmanship and illegal waste disposal. Practical advice explains how to identify reputable traders and avoid becoming the next victim.

Getting animated about scams

Posted: 01 August 2018

UPDATES: Halton Trading Standards has turned the proceeds of counterfeiters' crime into a series of animated films tackling scams, loan sharks and fake goods, using local partners to spread consumer protection messages to vulnerable residents.

Illicit cigarettes seized in Staffs

Posted: 27 July 2018

UPDATES: Staffordshire's latest crackdown on illicit tobacco uncovered a quarter of a million illegal cigarettes and large quantities of hand-rolling tobacco, highlighting the scale of organised criminal activity and the continuing value of public intelligence.

CTSI warns on timeshare scams