Which? responds to CTSI report on high street crime and Trading Standards

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Rights Policy, said:

“This report exposes the true scale of high street criminality that Trading Standards are confronting. It’s shocking that some areas, as many as half of convenience stores, up to a third of American candy shops, and one in four fast food takeaways are estimated to have links to organised crime.

"Trading Standards services are tasked with tackling a wide range of issues, including dangerous products, food standards and misleading pricing practices across national and local businesses. However, our research shows that consumers face a postcode lottery when it comes to protection, with many teams under-resourced.

"The Government should undertake a fundamental review of consumer enforcement, including the role of Trading Standards, to ensure an effective, intelligence-led system with sufficient resources at national, regional, and local levels.”

-ENDS-