Trading Standards Service Plan 2023 to 2024
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 | Bi-monthly |
| Develop further links with Police, HMRC and other regulatory partners | Plan and carry out a targeted joint enforcement exercise | March 2024 |
Objective - To ensure that weighing and measuring equipment in use for trade is operating within permitted tolerances
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver a risk based legal metrology intervention programme | Undertake 100 metrology enforcement actions | March 2024 |
Objective - To work closely with regional regulatory partners on areas of shared concern
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Contribute to regional projects as and when required | Contribute to a Regional Lettings Enforcement Project as part of a project funded by the National Estate & Letting Agency Team | March 2024 |
| Contribute to the ongoing work of the Regional Food Allergens Working Group | March 2024 |
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 official controls at local food premises | March 2024 |
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 2024 |
Supporting Reputable Businesses
Objective - To ensure that traders selling goods and services online are complying with distance selling and e-commerce rules
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Participate in national website compliance project | Undertake project and any identified follow up work in line with national protocols | September 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 local businesses are complying with new rules aimed at reducing obesity levels
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Assess levels of compliance with restrictions on multibuy deals for food high in fat, sugar or salt at specified retailers | Carry out compliance checks and provide follow-up advice and guidance as appropriate | March 2024 |
Objective - To ensure that food sold at catering establishments within the Borough is safe and accurately described
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Undertake project based work looking at particular identified products / trade sectors | Undertake allergens sampling project with follow up advice and guidance as required Takeaway and restaurant sampling project looking at product description | March 2024 March 2024 |
Objective - To ensure that Trading Standards enforcement work is targeted effectively at businesses who are causing significant detriment to consumers and reputable businesses
| Action | 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 Quarterly 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 | March 2024 |
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 Provide information to School's Safeguarding Forum on requirements regarding the use and sale of vapes by children | March 2024 December 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 2024 March 2024 |
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 programme of targeted test purchasing exercises of age restricted products with a young volunteer | Carry out at least four intelligence led underage test purchase exercises | Quartley |
Objective - To ensure that transport hauliers are complying with environmental weight restrictions in designated areas
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Check compliance with environmental weight restrictions in designated areas | Establish an online reporting tool so that residents can directly report concerns Carry out a programme of compliance checks in designated areas Carry out a joint exercise with Cleveland Police Road Traffic Unit | September 2023 March 2024 March 2024 |
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 2024 |
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 2024 When required |
Objective - To raise awareness of fraud issues and related scams
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| To publicise messages around scams awareness and fraud prevention whenever possible | Continue sharing and disseminating key anti-fraud messages via social media channels, Stockton News, digital inclusion projects and other appropriate means Participate in the local Multi-Agency Approach to Fraud (MAAF) initiative | Ongoing March 2024 |
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 2023 March 2024 |
Objective - To inform stakeholders with regard to service priorities and related performance
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Produce report summarising performance in 2022/23 | Produce and circulate an annual performance report for 2022/23 | September 2023 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
Completion of stage 1 of the Professional Competency Framework by the Trainee / Apprentice
Commencement of stage 2 of the Professional Competency Framework by both existing Enforcement Officers | Undertake and pass stage 1 Trading Standards law paper Successful completion of the Regulatory Compliance Officer apprenticeship Commence work on both the weights and measures and the food standards portfolios Undertake North East Weights & Measures Training Programme | July 2023 March 2024 June 2023 March 2024 |
Objective - To ensure that the Service's regulatory processes comply with the requirements of the new Food Standards Delivery Model
| Actions | Targets | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
Review the Service's regulatory processes in light of the requirements of the new Food Standards Delivery Model | Carry out review and implement necessary changes to comply with the new Food Standards Delivery Model | March 2024 |
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 2024 |
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 2024 |
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