UPDATES: CTSI is offering free training for members on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, covering new online consumer protections, enforcement powers and rules affecting tech firms, marketplaces and sellers.

UPDATES: Enforcement work by Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards has resulted in a suspended sentence for a shepherd who committed animal welfare and farming standards offences, leaving the decaying.

UPDATES: Consumers are being warned to steer clear of quick-fix weight-loss products and fake online pharmacies as Trading Standards highlights the risks posed by unproven diet scams and misleading health claims.

UPDATES: Following the Southport tragedy, the Government is accelerating tougher age-verification rules for online knife sales, with significant implications for retailers and consumer protection enforcement.

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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 ...

UPDATES: A substantial court penalty for an Oxfordshire trader underlines the consequences of breaching consumer protection law and reinforces the importance of robust local enforcement.

UPDATES: A persistent rogue roofer has been jailed after leaving consumers out of pocket, demonstrating the impact of coordinated Trading Standards investigations and successful prosecution.

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ANALYSIS: A new government, a packed legislative agenda and rising expectations of enforcement – what does it all mean for Trading Standards? From product safety and online marketplaces to tobacco control, renters’ rights and planning reform, this article breaks down the key Bills moving through parliament ...

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ANALYSIS: Peter Tompkins’ 60-year Trading Standards career spans from Weights and Measures inspections to modern consumer protection. He’s seen major changes: more women in the profession, shifts from prosecutions to advice, and challenges from austerity. Optimistic, he stresses the need for proper funding, sensible regulation, and further support for new officers ...

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ANALYSIS: Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets, reveals how Trading Standards protects consumers, supports businesses, and tackles rogue traders in a rapidly changing digital world. From online marketplaces to Net Zero initiatives, Madders highlights the critical role of enforcement, funding, and modern regulation in creating a safer, fairer, and more confident economy ...

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ANALYSIS: Nearly half a billion pounds was lost to bank scams in the UK last year, leaving victims “devastated, embarrassed and angry with themselves.” Experts warn that consumer education is key to prevention, yet dwindling resources mean many miss out on vital guidance. Discover how Trading Standards is fighting back - and why early education could protect you for life ...

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ANALYSIS: A family home destroyed in seconds, lives lost, and a father left to plead for change - all because of overheating e-bike and e-scooter batteries. With fires on the rise, experts are calling for urgent regulation, safer design, and stricter online sales rules. Read how one tragedy is sparking a fight to protect UK households from this hidden danger ...

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ANALYSIS: Scotland’s ambitious Heat in Buildings Strategy aims to cut carbon emissions and make homes more energy-efficient - but experts warn the sector is unprepared. Rogue traders, confusing incentives, and poorly installed products could leave consumers out of pocket and homes at risk. Read how Trading Standards is pushing for safeguards to make green heating safe, effective, and trustworthy ...

UPDATES: Another rogue builder has received a custodial sentence after exploiting householders, sending a clear message that serious consumer fraud will be pursued through the courts.

OPINION: Distraction can be a powerful tactic in public debate and policy. This commentary considers why staying focused on the real issues matters more than ever for Trading Standards.

OPINION: The language used by regulators, businesses and campaigners can shape behaviour as much as policy itself. Clear communication remains a powerful tool for consumer protection.

OPINION: Progress depends on creating the conditions for success rather than simply identifying obstacles. This piece explores a positive, practical approach to leadership and change.

OPINION: As the profession continues to evolve, travelling new roads brings fresh opportunities alongside difficult decisions. Reflection, resilience and ambition are central themes.

UPDATES: OPSS’s first Horizon Scan places jetpacks and human implant technology among the emerging developments with the greatest potential consumer risk. The report also highlights online marketplaces, social commerce and fast-changing supply chains as areas where regulation and market surveillance will need to keep pace.

UPDATES: A Bradford shop sold cigarettes to a 13-year-old volunteer during a West Yorkshire Trading Standards test purchase, despite prior warnings about underage sales. The case underlines the continuing need for age checks, public reporting and enforcement against retailers that put children at risk.