Partnership work between our Trading Standards service and Police Scotland to tackle serious organised crime has been recognised with an award from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
The partnership has been effective in disrupting doorstep crime and illicit trade, recovering £29,500 of illicit cigarettes and 7.75kg of hand rolling tobacco from five premises. Officers also collaborated with Apple brand representatives the WRi Group to seize counterfeit Apple and Samsung products with an estimated street value of £4,000 from a retail premise.
Officers also focused resources on doorstep crime hotspots, introducing 11 No Cold Calling Zones (NCCZ) to areas identified as suitable for intensive intervention and through regular joint patrols. With a further four zones planned in the coming weeks.
The teams, led by Acting Chief Inspector Susan Rae and Senior Trading Standards Officer Anne Marie Spalding, were awarded the Outstanding Project Award at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute annual Hero Awards which celebrates outstanding achievements in consumer protection.
“This is an excellent example of partnership working addressing issues which have a real impact of the lives of our residents,” said Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.
“Criminals target vulnerable people in our communities, selling poor quality, often dangerous goods and services and conning them out of large sums of money. By working with Police Scotland, Trading Standards Officers are helping people identify and avoid cold callers and bogus workmen, as well as stopping the supply of counterfeit goods in North Lanarkshire.”
Acting Chief Inspector Susan Rae said: “It has been an honour to have our work alongside Trading Standards colleagues be recognised in this way by CTSI, but we will never rest on our laurels. “Police Scotland remains committed to protecting our communities from criminals, bogus callers and rogue traders, through a series of preventative measures and proactive work with our partners.
“I want to remind people that we can all play our part by looking out for potentially vulnerable members of family, friends and neighbours, and if you have any concerns please contact police on 101.”
CTSI Chief Executive John Herriman said: “CTSI are delighted to give out this Outstanding Project Award to North Lanarkshire Council Trading Standards, and celebrate the amazing work done by this partnership with Police Scotland.
“The collaboration and initiative shown here is fantastic, and really goes above and beyond to protect consumers and keep the playing field level for honest businesses.”
Anyone concerned about cold callers or counterfeit goods can contact Trading Standards at tradingstandards@northlan.gov.uk or Police Scotland by calling 101.