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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Wigan TS seizes illicit products

Posted: 08 January 2024

UPDATES: Wigan Trading Standards has removed more than £200,000 worth of illicit tobacco and vaping products from sale, with major seizures, shop enforcement and joint operations targeting persistent offenders across the borough.

Illicit tobacco haul in Tower Hamlets

Posted: 03 January 2024

UPDATES: Tower Hamlets Trading Standards uncovered a significant cache of illicit tobacco and oversized vapes hidden in secret compartments during pre-Christmas raids. The seizure forms part of wider efforts to disrupt organised criminal supply networks.

Staffs TS nabs illegal cigarettes & vapes

Posted: 03 January 2024

UPDATES: Staffordshire Trading Standards has intensified its crackdown on illegal tobacco and oversized vapes through national enforcement operations, with fresh seizures adding to a growing haul of illicit products removed from local businesses.

Loft insulation scammers jailed

Posted: 13 December 2023

UPDATES: Herefordshire Trading Standards secured jail sentences for two men behind a spray foam loft insulation scam that targeted elderly homeowners through illegal cold calls, leaving victims facing inflated bills, restricted cancellation rights and homes that became difficult to sell.

Anti-scam toolkit for students launches

Posted: 21 November 2023

UPDATES: A new Student Scams Toolkit aims to help young people recognise the frauds most likely to target them, offering practical guidance on everything from rental and employment scams to online shopping and romance fraud before losses occur.

H&F TS tackles football rip-offs

Posted: 16 November 2023

UPDATES: Persistent action against illegal football merchandise sellers has resulted in another successful prosecution, as Hammersmith and Fulham Trading Standards continues its campaign to protect supporters and legitimate traders on matchdays around Stamford Bridge.

No place to hide for illicit tobacco

Posted: 16 November 2023

UPDATES: Derby Trading Standards is uncovering increasingly sophisticated hiding places for illicit tobacco and illegal vapes, with Operation CeCe raids exposing concealed stock worth thousands of pounds despite elaborate hydraulic compartments designed to evade detection.

Brighton & Hove rogue warning

Posted: 14 November 2023

UPDATES: Brighton and Hove Trading Standards is urging residents to stay alert after a sharp increase in complaints about rogue builders, highlighting the devastating financial losses, poor workmanship and doorstep tactics that continue to target householders.

'Greedy' rogue builder jailed

Posted: 08 November 2023

UPDATES: A rogue builder who financed luxury spending by defrauding householders has been jailed following a Trading Standards investigation. The case highlights the scale of consumer harm caused by repeat offenders and the persistence needed to bring complex frauds before the courts.

Illicit tobacco couple plead guilty

Posted: 06 November 2023

UPDATES: An Oxfordshire couple have admitted selling illicit tobacco and cigarettes through Facebook after a Trading Standards investigation uncovered illegal products at their home. The prosecution underlines continuing efforts to disrupt organised illicit tobacco sales.

Essex TS concludes complex fraud case

Posted: 01 November 2023

UPDATES: Essex Trading Standards has concluded its largest-ever fraud investigation, working with National Trading Standards and regional partners to secure guilty verdicts in a complex case involving extensive consumer fraud and years of investigative work.

Illicit cigarettes seized in Staffs

Posted: 27 October 2023

UPDATES: Operation CeCe enforcement activity in Staffordshire uncovered thousands of illicit cigarettes, large quantities of illegal tobacco and hundreds of unlawful vapes, demonstrating the continuing focus on disrupting the illegal tobacco market.

NTS campaign targets scam stigma

Posted: 25 October 2023

UPDATES: National Trading Standards has launched a campaign to tackle the stigma surrounding scams, encouraging more victims to report offences and seek support while helping authorities build a clearer picture of fraud affecting consumers.

Rogues exploit extreme weather

Posted: 24 October 2023

UPDATES: Severe weather has created new opportunities for rogue traders targeting vulnerable householders. Trading Standards is urging consumers to remain vigilant, check traders carefully and avoid high-pressure offers following storms and flooding.

Jail for Plymouth rogue trader

Posted: 20 October 2023

UPDATES: A rogue trader who exploited vulnerable homeowners, including a blind victim, has been jailed following an investigation by Heart of the South West Trading Standards, bringing justice in a case involving unnecessary and costly home improvement work.

Counterfeit tobacco seller guilty

Posted: 16 October 2023

UPDATES: A haul of more than 1,500 counterfeit cigarette packets uncovered at a Taunton shop led to a successful prosecution, community service and another warning that illicit tobacco continues to fund criminal activity while undermining legitimate retailers.