COVID 19: How to protect lives
Protect lives and report businesses flouting Covid-19 laws
Staffordshire residents are being urged to report businesses which open to the public and flout Covid-19 restrictions.
Trading standards officers are working with district and borough environmental health teams and the police to ensure businesses remain closed where the law applies. Businesses including pubs, cinemas, theatres and casinos were told to close from 21 March as part of government drive to reduce the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.
Under the Business Closure regulations, officers have powers to prosecute businesses for breach of regulations and may result in the following:
- issue of prohibition notices
- fines and the loss of alcohol licences
- no upper limit to fines for continued to ignorance of these restrictions
Anyone who has concerns about businesses not complying should report them to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline:
Protect your business from COVID-19 scams
As a result of COVID-19 pandemic there is an increased risk of malicious scams targeting businesses to help combat this the National Trading Standards have launched Business Against Scams, a free online training tool aimed at help educate and protect businesses.
Businesses can take the training at Friends Against Scams
If a business believes they have been the victim of a scam they must contact their bank immediately and report any suspicious activity to Action Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040.