Inspections
Officers carry out routine inspections of a
wide variety of commercial premises and will offer advice on
compliance with Trading Standards legislation.
The following are examples of some of the
principal Trading Standards activities:
Safety: All consumer
goods are required by law to be safe. Certain products such as
toys, electrical goods , cosmetics, and upholstered furniture
have specific safety requirements enforced by trading
standards.
Fair Trading: Consumers
should not be misled by claims, pricing, descriptions and others
selling techniques used by traders in selling goods and
services.
Weights and Measures:
Most weighing and measuring equipment in trade use, including
petrol pumps, scales and alcohol measures, can be tested for
accuracy by a Trading Standards Officer. Officers also check the
weight of goods in supermarkets, greengrocers, butchers, and other
retail premises.
Enforcement and Service Standards
We aim to ensure that when we enforce the law our actions are
proportionate, consistent, fair, and appropriate, that people
understand why the action is being taken, what is expected from
them and what they should expect from us. We aim to be helpful and
open in our actions and target our resources at the highest risk
areas.
If, as a result of an inspection or investigation, you are
required to take some action, we will make it clear what must be
done, why, and by when, distinguishing between legal requirements
and good practice, in written and verbal communications.
We will confirm verbal advice in writing when requested. Prior
to formal action being taken, unless immediate action is required,
we will discuss the circumstances, where possible. Where immediate
action is necessary we will explain why it is needed and confirm
this in writing within 10 days. We will also advise businesses on
compliance with the law. Your right of appeal against an
enforcement notice is detailed on the back of the notice.
Officers will identify themselves by name and be courteous,
helpful and provide you with a contact information for future
reference.
We aim to:
- inspect all businesses that we consider as a
high risk at least once a year.
- inspect other premises at intervals that reflect the degree of
risk involved in running that business in accordance with national
agreed guidance.
- serve a notice if one is required following a visit and to
ensure compliance revisit within a maximum of 28 days.
- ensure that anyone requesting a service or making a justifiable
complaint will get a first response within 24 hours or the next
working day informing them who is handling the request, what is
going to be done and how long we estimate it will take to deal
satisfactorily with the matter.
We also aim to:
- respond immediately (same day or within one working day) to
complaints relating to the safety of consumer goods and services
depending on the degree of risk involved. In other cases we will
determine whether an immediate action is required on our part to
help resolve a dispute. This will be dependent on the circumstances
of the case and the vulnerability of the customer.
We aim to:
- respond to complaints about our services within 28 days.
For further information contact Trading
Standards.