Trading Standards Service Plan 2022 to 2023
Appendix 1 - Key actions and activities 2022 to 2023
Ensuring a safe, fair and competitive trading environment
Objective - To work closely with partners and other agencies where appropriate to coordinate, streamline and improve regulatory activity
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| To work closely with the other Responsible Authorities under the Licensing Act | Attend monthly meetings and continue with joint working arrangements | Monthly |
| Contribute to local and regional intelligence sharing groups | Attend regular meetings and continue with joint working arrangements | Quarterly |
| Develop further links with Police, HMRC and other regulatory partners | Plan and carry out a targeted joint enforcement exercise | March 2023 |
Objective - To ensure that goods and services available within the Borough are safe and accurately measured
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver a risk based legal metrology intervention programme | Undertake 100 metrology enforcement actions | March 2023 |
| Contribute to regional NETSA projects as and when required | Carry out regional projects as and when required | March 2023 |
Objective - To ensure that food products are safe and accurately described
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Carry out a risk based inspection programme, for planned interventions at local food premises | Undertake 150 planned interventions at local food premises | March 2023 |
Objective - To ensure that goods and services available within the Borough are accurately described
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Undertake project looking at the accuracy of claims made regarding membership of trade associations | Undertake project and any identified follow up enforcement work | March 2023 |
Objective - To ensure that designated animal feed establishments are appropriately registered and do not present a risk to animals or the human food chain
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Participate in FSA regional feed hygiene inspection and sampling programme | Undertake agreed inspection and sampling programme | March 2023 |
Supporting Reputable Businesses
Objective - To ensure that products and services provided by local beauty salons are safe
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Provide advice to local beauty salons with regard to new rules prohibiting the sale and use of Botox and cosmetic fillers for children under the age of 18 | Produce and distribute guidance | September 2022 |
Objective - To ensure that local second-hand car dealers comply with their legal responsibilities
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Identify local second-hand car dealers that are consistently failing to comply with their legal responsibilities, causing significant consumer detriment, and provide appropriate advice, with follow-up enforcement action as necessary | Assess complaint levels and identify those second-hand car dealers causing significant issues Provide relevant advice to identified car dealers on their legal responsibilities Monitor complaint levels for identified traders and carry out appropriate enforcement actions as required | June 2022
March 2023 |
Objective - To receive, record and disseminate intelligence on rogue traders in accordance with national protocols
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Integrate the requirements of the national intelligence model into local working practices | Monitor the use of the IDB intelligence database, to ensure Service is complying with national intelligence requirements | Ongoing |
Objective - To ensure that Trading Standards enforcement work is targeted effectively at businesses who are causing significant detriment to consumers and reputable businesses
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Collate information on identified traders to ensure that intervention work is carried out when appropriate | Monitor complaints and instigate an intervention for those businesses with an unacceptable level of complaints Complete a local intelligence data submission for the Regional Tactical Assessment Liaise with, and task, the North East Regional Enforcement Team where appropriate, concerning unfair trading practices that have an adverse effect across the region | Ongoing
When required |
Contributing to Public Health and Wellbeing
Objective - To ensure that local catering establishments are aware of their legal responsibilities with respect to food allergens
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Assess levels of compliance with allergen labelling requirements, especially for food that is prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) | Carry out compliance checks on PPDS foods and provide follow-up advice and guidance as appropriate Undertake allergens sampling project with follow up advice and guidance as required | December 2022 March 2023 |
Objective - To ensure that vaping products on sale within the Borough are safe and comply with legal requirements
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Assess the safety and compliance of vaping products on sale within the Borough | Carry out compliance checks on vaping products, with follow-up enforcement action as necessary | March 2023 |
Objective - To tackle the sale of counterfeit and illicit tobacco in order to disrupt organised criminal activity and assist in efforts to reduce smoking prevalence
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Use an intelligence led approach to disrupt the sale and distribution of counterfeit and illicit tobacco | Participate in Operation CeCe alongside HMRC and other regional TS partners Undertake enforcement action against identified targets, utilising all enforcement options available | March 2023 March 2023 |
Objective - To reduce underage sales of alcohol, cigarettes, vapes and other age restricted products and ensure that all effective enforcement options are considered
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Undertake a targeted test purchasing exercise of age restricted products with a young volunteer | Carry out at least two intelligence led underage test purchase exercises | March 2023 |
Objective - To ensure that local businesses are complying with new rules aimed at reducing obesity levels
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Assess levels of compliance with calorie labelling requirements for non-prepacked food at specified catering establishments Assess levels of compliance with placement requirements for food high in fat, sugar or salt at specified retailers | Carry out compliance checks and provide follow-up advice and guidance as appropriate Carry out compliance checks and provide follow-up advice and guidance as appropriate | December 2022 March 2023 |
Protecting the Vulnerable
Objective - To disrupt criminals who target the elderly and vulnerable in their own homes
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Work with other agencies including Police, HMRC and VOSA to target these offenders | Participate in organised days of action, such as National Rogue Trader Day and Operation Mermaid as well as in other initiatives such as the Banking Protocol | When required |
Objective - To identify and support vulnerable consumers targeted by junk mail and other mass marketing scams
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Continue participation in referral arrangements with the National Scams Team (NST) to identify and support victims in Stockton-on-Tees | Identify, visit and support victims and submit monthly return to NST | Monthly |
Objective - To raise awareness of doorstep crime amongst local residents
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Introduce further No Cold Calling Zones in suitable locations | Consider all requests for No Cold Calling Zones and action as appropriate | When required |
Objective - To support vulnerable consumers suffering with dementia who are being targeted by nuisance telephone calls
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Participate in NTS campaigns to help protect dementia sufferers using available call blocking devices | Liaise with Adult Safeguarding as appropriate to allocate and provide any available devices to the most vulnerable | March 2023 |
Objective - To raise awareness of current consumer protection issues and increase the profile of the Service
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Attend and/or organise consumer events as and when required | Contribute to the work of Stockton's Home Safety Association Attend events and provide information on doorstep crime, scams and other consumer protection issues, as required | March 2022 When required |
Objective - To raise awareness of fraud issues and related scams
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Implement the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review looking into issues around fraud awareness (personal) | Present paper on fraud awareness to the Safer Stockton Partnership Provide update to the Crime & Disorder Select Committee, in relation to work on fraud awareness Continue sharing and disseminating key anti-fraud messages via social media channels, Stockton News, digital inclusion projects and other appropriate means | June 2022 |
Providing an Effective and Efficient Service
Objective - To ensure that the Trading Standards Advice Service continues to provide high quality advice and information
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Review the operation of the Advice Service particularly with regard to opening hours and method of operation Carry out a satisfaction survey of Advice Centre customers | Carry out a review of the operation of the Trading Standards Advice Service A minimum satisfaction index of 90% | September 2022 March 2023 |
Objective - To inform stakeholders with regard to service priorities and related performance
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Produce report summarising performance in 2021/22 | Produce and circulate an annual performance report for 2021/22 | September 2022 |
Objective - To ensure that the Council's regulatory processes comply with the requirements of the Regulators' Code
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Review the Council's Regulatory Services Enforcement Policy and introduce a penalty policy for the Tenant Fees Act 2019 | Obtain Cabinet approval for revised policies | July 2022 |
Objective - To increase the number of qualified Trading Standards Officers, using a 'grow your own' methodology, to help future-proof service delivery
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Participate in Council's apprenticeship recruitment programme Register both existing Enforcement Officers on the professional competency qualification framework | Recruit and appoint a Trainee Trading Standards Officer (Apprentice) Complete registration process and begin qualification pathway in line with the requirements of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. | July 2022 December 2022 |
Objective - To ensure that the Service continues to run efficiently and smoothly in accordance with the Council's flexible working arrangements
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Implement the requirements of the Council's flexible working policy | Participate in pilot scheme and amend working arrangements as necessary | October 2022 |
Objective - To ensure that officers have the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their functions effectively
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Implement training programme | An average of 20 hours of training per officer per year, to include Food/Feed officers for competency requirements | March 2023 |
Objective - To recover, where appropriate, the financial benefit that an offender has obtained from criminal conduct
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Carry out financial investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, when appropriate | Carry out financial investigations when required and assist external regulatory partners as appropriate | March 2023 |