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Trading standards

Head of service

Robin Carson

Date

October 2009

Service provided, number of staff and equipment

Plymouth trading standards unit has 10.6 full time officers. The unit is fully equipped to provide a local trading standards service and can call on specialist equipment and expertise where necessary.

Specification

The trading standards service sets out to reduce consumer detriment, and to ensure a fair and safe trading environment, within which, informed demanding consumers and informed successful business trade.

Officers of the service carry out market surveillance to ensure goods and services meet standards of quality, quantity and safety set out in legislation.

Activities undertaken by trading standards include:

• a programmed routine inspection of business where officers will audit a trader and provide advice on steps to take should any non-compliance be identified
• the sampling and testing of goods and services
• advising consumers on consumer rights and how to enforce them
• advising businesses on consumer rights and steps that should be taken by traders
• the investigation of cases of consumer fraud and criminal activity that creates consumer detriment or damages the interests of legitimate businesses

The trading standards service supports local businesses by:

• providing free advice on consumer law issues
• providing information or training on consumer law
• checking and reporting on the accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment
• advising on how a business can protect itself when purchasing goods and services

The trading standards service can also organise high accuracy calibration checks of weights and measures equipment.

Performance measure

The number of:

• inspections conducted and the no conformities found
• investigations completed
• formal actions taken
• samples procured
• consumers or businesses advised
• training courses run
• level of consumer detriment assessed

Non-compliance procedure

In line with the council’s enforcement policy officers will consider the level of non conformity and will either advise or take a formal enforcement action considered appropriate to achieve the desired outcomes.

Boundary area

BID area.

Proposed BID additional activity

N/A

Cost of BID additional activity

N/A

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