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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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Barking & Dagenham TS: Rogue Trader Jailed

Posted: 10 February 2026


UPDATES: A rogue builder who conned homeowners out of more than £100,000 has been jailed after a major investigation by Barking and Dagenham Council and National Trading Standards. Using fake names and bogus companies, he left families out of pocket and homes unsafe ...

Property Rental Scam Hits London

Posted: 14 August 2025


UPDATES: London Trading Standards is warning renters about a growing property scam targeting those seeking bargain rents. Fraudsters are pressuring would-be tenants to pay deposits or rent upfront for properties that don’t exist, using fake documents and disappearing agents. With losses running into thousands, LTS urges renters to stay vigilant as enforcement action and new tenant protections gather pace ...

 

Property rental scam hits London

Posted: 14 August 2025

UPDATES: Fraudsters are exploiting London's competitive rental market with convincing fake property listings and bogus tenancy paperwork. Trading Standards is urging prospective tenants to stay alert as reports of the scam continue to mount.

Shopkeeper Fined for Illegal Vapes

Posted: 24 July 2025


UPDATES: A Dagenham shop owner has been fined after Trading Standards seized nearly £45,000 worth of illegal oversized disposable vapes. Despite previous warnings, thousands of non-compliant devices were found on sale, prompting prosecution and fresh closure threats - underscoring a tough crackdown on traders who put profits ahead of public health and youth safety ...

 

Shopkeeper fined for illegal vapes

Posted: 24 July 2025

UPDATES: Thousands of illegal oversized disposable vapes have been seized from an east London shop, resulting in a substantial fine. The prosecution reflects continued enforcement against unlawful vaping products.

Hackney TS Seizes Illicit Goods

Posted: 22 July 2025


UPDATES: Hackney Trading Standards has seized more than £60,000 worth of illicit goods in a series of targeted raids on local shops. The haul included tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes, illicit vapes, counterfeit items and even controlled drugs - highlighting a major crackdown aimed at protecting consumers and supporting legitimate businesses ...

 

Hackney TS seizes illicit goods

Posted: 22 July 2025

UPDATES: Raids by Hackney Trading Standards uncovered tens of thousands of illicit cigarettes, illegal vapes and other offending, illustrating the breadth of criminal activity often linked to rogue retail premises.

Analysis: Putting it Out There

Posted: 16 June 2025


ANALYSIS: Hundreds of young people packed the 2025 REACH Society Careers Conference - and Trading Standards took centre stage. From inspiring role models to new apprenticeship opportunities, this article explores how the profession is reaching diverse new talent, opening doors and showing the next generation how they can build careers that truly make a difference ...

 

Analysis: Putting it out there

Posted: 16 June 2025

ANALYSIS: CTSI’s return to the REACH Society Careers Conference showed how direct engagement with young people can widen access to Trading Standards and regulatory careers. The piece highlights the importance of representation, apprenticeships and collaboration in building a profession that better reflects the communities it serves.

Resident Rescued from Rogue Roofer

Posted: 27 May 2025


UPDATES: A Hammersmith & Fulham resident was targeted by a suspected rogue roofer who ramped up a £700 quote to £7,000 and applied relentless pressure for payment. After Trading Standards stepped in, the trader vanished. This case highlights how doorstep scams operate and how quick action can stop victims losing even more money ...

 

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.
 

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.
 

Rogue letting agents sentenced

Posted: 04 April 2025

UPDATES: A landmark Trading Standards prosecution has seen five rogue letting agents jailed and banned after exploiting vulnerable tenants, exposing the scale and complexity of organised housing fraud.
 

Illegal e-bike importer guilty

Posted: 24 January 2025

UPDATES: A trader who imported almost 1,000 non-compliant and unsafe e-scooters and e-bikes has been successfully prosecuted by Islington Council following a Trading Standards investigation. Sardar Rassa, who traded.

TS Targets Underage Knife Sales

Posted: 15 January 2025


ANALYSIS: From test purchases to bleed kits and life-saving first-aid training, Barking & Dagenham Trading Standards is taking a proactive, partnership-led approach to tackling knife crime. This article explores how local enforcement, youth education and tighter controls on knife sales are working together to prevent harm – and why stronger online age-verification laws are a crucial next step ...

 

TS targets underage knife sales

Posted: 15 January 2025

ANALYSIS: Test purchasing and intelligence-led enforcement continue to expose weaknesses in age-restricted knife sales. The latest activity highlights both progress made and the challenges that remain.
 

Shop fined for selling illicit tobacco

Posted: 07 January 2025

UPDATES: Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards secured fines and costs of more than £5,000 after counterfeit tobacco was found at a Dagenham shop during an Operation CeCe inspection. The case reinforces the public health and consumer protection risks posed by illicit tobacco sales.
 

Almost 10,000 cigarettes seized

Posted: 18 December 2024

UPDATES: A significant seizure of illicit cigarettes has disrupted the illegal tobacco trade while highlighting the wider links between counterfeit goods, organised crime and consumer harm.
 

Illicit tobacco seller hit with hefty fine

Posted: 02 December 2024

UPDATES: A Dagenham shopkeeper and business have been fined after Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards found almost 2,000 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes hidden on the premises during Operation CeCe inspections.
 

Rogue letting agents found guilty

Posted: 11 November 2024

UPDATES: A Tower Hamlets investigation has secured convictions against rogue letting agents who used multiple company names to exploit international students and workers through misleading adverts, unprotected deposits and unlawful rental practices.