UPDATES: A Barrow shop owner has been prosecuted after Trading Standards uncovered counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco during a test purchase operation. Following the seizure of hundreds of illegal tobacco products, the seller was convicted in court - sending a clear warning that illicit tobacco sales harm communities and will not be tolerated ...

UPDATES: The Intellectual Property Office has unveiled a new online Intelligence Gateway designed to streamline how suspected IP crime is reported and investigated. Replacing the old PIPCU referral form, the platform brings enforcement bodies, rights holders and police closer together - promising smarter prioritisation, stronger coordination, and a more effective national response to protecting IP rights ...

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 ...

UPDATES: Lancashire Trading Standards has taken action against food businesses caught mis-selling kebabs after tests revealed undeclared meats including beef and chicken. Multiple prosecutions highlight a growing national issue around inaccurate labelling, with repeat offenders fined for breaching food safety laws and misleading consumers about what they were really eating ...

UPDATES: Trading Standards in Northern Ireland has prosecuted a builder who took £20,000 for an extension he failed to complete, leaving a homeowner with a half-built structure and major financial losses. The case highlights the devastating impact of rogue traders, with the offender convicted of fraud and ordered to pay compensation ...

UPDATES: The Government has announced a major crackdown on “cowboy” cosmetic procedures, targeting unqualified practitioners and high-risk treatments. New rules will restrict who can carry out procedures such as non-surgical BBLs, tighten oversight of fillers and Botox, and introduce stronger protections for under-18s, following mounting evidence of serious harm ...

UPDATES: Lincolnshire Trading Standards has carried out its largest-ever illegal tobacco seizure, removing more than 320,000 illicit cigarettes and 165kg of hand rolling tobacco in coordinated raids with police. Two shops were closed for three months as officers warned of links to organised crime, public safety risks and serious fire hazards ...

UPDATES: A Kidlington shop owner who repeatedly flouted tobacco and vape laws has admitted multiple offences after Trading Standards uncovered illegal vapes and banned snus on open display. Despite prior warnings, prosecutions and a revoked alcohol licence, officers say enforcement action was unavoidable ...

UPDATES: A Reading shopkeeper has been fined after selling a vape to a 14-year-old during a Trading Standards sting, despite previous warnings and a past closure order. The case exposes repeated failures to protect children, highlights tough enforcement in the borough, and sends a clear warning to retailers flouting age-restriction laws after yet another failed test purchase ...

UPDATES: A driveway trader who posed under a false name has been convicted after ripping off homeowners with shoddy, overpriced and unfinished work. An investigation uncovered fraud, illegal waste dumping and broken consumer laws, leaving victims thousands out of pocket. Now ordered to repay £11,000, the case highlights how rogue traders operate and how Trading Standards shut them down ...

UPDATES: A Plymouth glazier who intimidated customers, carried out shoddy work and misused a trusted trader logo has been sentenced after a Trading Standards prosecution. Complaints revealed fraud, threats and misleading claims that left victims distressed and out of pocket - ending with a suspended prison sentence, community service and a director ban ...

UPDATES: Two women who built a lucrative counterfeit goods operation on Facebook Marketplace have been sentenced after a Trading Standards investigation uncovered fake designer items worth tens of thousands of pounds. Despite clear warnings, the illegal trade continued - ending with one woman jailed for over two years and a stark warning about the scale and harm of counterfeit crime ...

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 ...

UPDATES: Trading Standards teams nationwide are warning parents about a surge in counterfeit “Labubu” dolls flooding shops and online marketplaces. Seized across the UK, the fake toys pose potential choking and chemical risks and often lack safety markings. With prices that seem too good to be true, officials urge shoppers to stay alert and buy only from trusted sellers ...

UPDATES: Asda has been fined £640,000 after Trading Standards officers found more than 100 out-of-date food items on sale at two Cardiff stores, including high-risk products. The case exposes repeated food safety failures at the supermarket giant and follows earlier prosecutions across the country - raising fresh concerns about consumer safety and supermarket compliance ...

UPDATES: Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are set to face tougher legal duties after the Product Regulation and Metrology Act gained Royal Assent. The new law promises stronger powers to tackle unsafe goods sold online, but consumer groups warn its success will hinge on bold follow-up rules to finally rein in dangerous products and hold platforms fully accountable ...

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 ...

UPDATES: Five shops across Devon and Torbay have been forced to close for three months after repeatedly selling illegal tobacco and vapes. Despite prior warnings, officers uncovered hidden stashes - some using specialist detection dogs - prompting court-ordered closures and a stark warning to rogue retailers that illegal sales will not be tolerated ...

UPDATES: CTSI is urging urgent regulation of the booming cosmetic IV drip sector after a Channel 4 investigation exposed widespread safety failings. Unsupervised glutathione drips are being offered in salons and online, with users suffering serious health risks. Trading Standards is calling for a licensing scheme and stricter oversight to protect consumers from this unregulated “wild west” of beauty treatments ...

UPDATES: A builder who took up to £160,000 from homeowners and abandoned jobs mid-project has been jailed for 12 months following a Trading Standards investigation. John Arnold left properties unsafe, supplied false certificates, and caused significant stress to victims - earning a decade-long director ban and sending a stark warning to rogue tradespeople exploiting local residents ...