Regional Investigations Teams

The National Trading Standards Regional Investigations Teams target criminals involved with doorstep crime, counterfeiting, consumer and business fraud and other related crime. They operate across England and Wales through eight regionally based teams covering:

• Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CeNTSA)
• North East Trading Standards Authorities (NETSA)
• Trading Standards East Midlands (TSEM)
• Trading Standards North West (TSNW)
• Tri Region, on behalf of Trading Standards South East Ltd (TSSEL), East of England Trading Standards Association (EETSA) and London Trading Standards authorities (LTS)
• Trading Standards South West (TSSW)
• Yorkshire and Humber Trading Standards Group (YAHTSG) and
• Wales Heads of Trading Standards (WHoTS)

Following investigations by National Trading Standards’ Regional Investigation Teams:

April 2016 - 31 March 2017

Several significant/long standing cases finally came to trial. Two of the largest and most complex trials finished. In both cases six defendants received prison sentences. Sixty-seven convicted criminals received 106 years' custodial sentences and 29 years' suspended sentences. There were also three curfews and eleven bans from being company directors. Fines amounted to £5,120 and court costs awarded reached over £330,000. Confiscation Orders totalled £1,619,265 and victim compensation awards reached £465,000.

1 April 2017 - 31 March 2018

Sixty-four convicted criminals received 129 years' custodial sentences and 39 years' suspended, sentences. Sixteen defendants were banned from being company directors and two received curfews. Fines of £8,000 and court costs awarded reached £105,000. Confiscation Orders totalled £8,500,000 and victim compensation awards were over £1.2m.

Examples of recent activity undertaken by Regional Investigations Teams can be found on the News section.