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.
Regional Investigations Teams Press Releases
Father and daughter sentenced to 46 months for timeshare ‘leisure credit’ scam
21st March 2019
National Trading Standards Regional Investigations Team seize thousands of counterfeit and unsafe goods
18th January 2019
Man sentenced to 10 months in prison for role in carpentry fraud
17th December 2018
Runaway criminal sentenced to seven and a half years for role in land banking fraud
17th December 2018
Driveway repair fraudster sentenced to five and a half years
30th August 2018
The National Trading Standards Work Areas
National Trading Standards has teams overseeing a range of issues, from copycat websites to doorstep crime.
Current Campaigns
Consumer Harm Report 2018
National Trading Standards’ annual Consumer Harm Report reveals more consumer detriment prevented and record prison sentences handed down. Report also highlights new and emerging threats facing consumers and businesses.
Friends Against Scams
Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team initiative, which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to Take a Stand Against Scams.
Scams Awareness Month 2018
Scams Awareness Month is a yearly campaign which aims to create a network of confident, alert consumers who ‘don’t miss a trick’ when it comes to scams. Scams Awareness Month 2018 will take place in June.