About us
Who are Trading Standards?
Trading Standards is the name given to the enforcement in the UK of a wide range of consumer related legislation, covering areas such as product safety, fair trading, metrology, and environmental controls.
The trading standards service is provided by over 200 local government authorities in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland (central government), and the Channel Islands, often as part of a larger department. (There are presently only around 200 qualified Trading Standards Officers in Scotland, spread over the 32 local authorities).
The work aims to bring about a fair trading environment in which reputable and responsible businesses, essential to the local economy, can succeed.
The legislation involved is made up of numerous major Acts of Parliament and hundreds of regulations affecting nearly all businesses to a greater or lesser extent.
The service must be capable of dealing with all types of trade activity and every size of business, from market stall to multinational company.
The businesses may be based in the area or marketing their products or services in the area.
The work involves
- visiting premises to ensure that legislation is complied with,
- giving advice to traders and consumers,
- protecting consumers and legitimate businesses from trading malpractices,
- investigating complaints of breaches of legislation,
- acting as Home Authority for businesses based in the area,
- forming partnerships with other enforcement bodies and
- maintaining cross border relationships with neighbouring authorities.
How do we do it?
Trading Standards officers employ a wide range of methods, skills and techniques to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Investigations range from the simple in the case of a retailer not pricing items correctly, to complex in the case of a motor dealer 'clocking' motor vehicles.
When dealing with deliberate offences and serious frauds and scams, officers often need to carry out full and detailed investigations (sometimes under-cover) with a view to bringing the offender to court.
However, considerable emphasis is placed by Trading Standards Departments on preventative enforcement and assisting traders to comply with the law, following the nationally recognised Enforcement Concordat.
Prosecutions usually result because either the circumstances of the case indicated serious fraud or negligence, or the trader repetitively offended and ignored warnings.
The work of the Trading Standards service also assists in achieving the authority's wider objectives, such as, Economic development, Health & safety in the community, protecting vulnerable groups and protecting the environment.
For our
policies and service standards see 'Downloads' on the right of this page.
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How to contact us:
Trading Standards
The Environment Service
Pullar House
35 Kinnoull Street
Perth
PH1 5GD
Tel: 01738 476476
Fax: 01738 476410
Email: enquiries@pkc.gov.uk
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Our Staff
We currently have 10 staff, comprised of: a Manager, 1 Principal trading Standards Officer, 3 Trading Standards Officers, 2 Animal Health and Welfare Officers, 1 Animal Feedstuffs Officer, 1 Petroleum and Explosives Officer, 1 Consumer Advisor and 1 Enforcement Assistant.
Trading Standards Officers
A trading standards officer (inspector of weights and measures) is unique in two respects.
- the inspector is required to hold a certificate of qualification by law
- the local weights and measures authority is required to appoint a sufficient number of inspectors, including a chief inspector, for the efficient discharge of its functions
The present qualification is the Diploma in Trading Standards which covers all aspects of an inspector's work.
They must be able to:
Deal with complaints and enquiries from consumers and businesses Analyse complaints in terms of specific criminal and civil law Discuss knowledgeably the technology of goods and services Assess import of legislation on businesses and consumers Interview witnesses to obtain information and statements for court
Appear as witness in court
Deal with enquiries from media |
Deal with difficult and confrontational situations during inspection or investigation Operate specialised weighing, measuring and testing equipment Handle and examine livestock and pets Research specialised databases for relevant information
Keep up to date with new and constantly evolving legislation Present lectures on various topics to interested groups Gather evidence for submission to Procurator Fiscal |
In Perth & Kinross our Trading Standards officers act as multi-disciplinary officers, carrying out the full range of duties under the various Acts and regulations enforced.
However the growth of functions and their increasing complexity has lead to a degree of specialisation
The legislation enforced by Trading Standards Officers is divided into three areas of responsibility' with one officer acting as the 'expert' in that area:
- Safety, Credit and Contracts
- Weights & Measures, Agriculture and Trade
- Fair Trading
Technical Officers
Some areas of Trading Standards work have become so highly specialised and time consuming that Perth & Kinross has employed officers, who although not holding a full Trading Standards qualification, are highly trained in their specialist roles.
These officers are ?authorised? to carry out their specific enforcement functions in the areas of:
- Animal Health
- Animal Feedstuffs
- Petroleum and Explosives
- Consumer Advice
How well do we perform?
Like many other services (see PKC performance reports) Trading Standards must also report on its performance levels.
Statutory Indicators of performance
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2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
2008/09 |
Consumer complaints - the percentage of complaints processed within 14 days of receipt |
95.9 |
96.0 |
95.6 |
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Business advice requests - the percentage of requests dealt with within 14 days of receipt |
100.0 |
98.5 |
98.1 |
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Inspection of trading premises - the percentage of premises in high and medium risk inspection level that were inspected on time |
77.3 |
80.0 |
80.5 |
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