Preventing more than £23 million in financial harm, supporting vulnerable residents and taking action against rogue traders are among the key successes of Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service in the past financial year.
New figures show the service helped prevent £23.07 million in consumer detriment, including £7.99 million saved through targeted action against scams and doorstep crime. Officers also contacted 140 known scam victims to offer direct support and advice, helping to safeguard those most at risk.
Enforcement activity has remained strong, with eight successful prosecutions and financial penalties secured against offenders, alongside 12 closure orders used to shut down premises linked to criminal or antisocial activity. In total, 43 businesses faced formal enforcement action.
Trading Standards also removed or prevented more than 28,000 unsafe or non-compliant products from reaching consumers, including counterfeit and illicit goods, protecting residents from dangerous items and supporting legitimate businesses.
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, explained that the Trading Standards service is protecting communities by tackling illegal trading carried out to make money dishonestly.
Anthony Screen said:
“Protecting residents from financial harm and unsafe goods remains our top priority, and these results show the real difference this work is making across Staffordshire.
“Our officers continue to take firm action against rogue traders while also supporting legitimate businesses to thrive. Just as importantly, they are helping to protect some of our most vulnerable residents from scams and exploitation.
“For every £1 spent, the service helps save £11 in consumer detriment which is a result in my book. This work is all about keeping our communities safe, informed and resilient.”
Alongside enforcement work, the service continues to support economic growth, providing advice to more than 1,200 businesses and maintaining strong partnerships to encourage safe, fair and legal trading. 95 per cent of businesses visited were found to be compliant or were brought into compliance following support.
The service’s work continues to focus on prevention, enforcement and education, ensuring Staffordshire residents are protected while supporting a fair and thriving local economy.
