Staffordshire County Council's Trading Standards team has stopped criminals from fleecing Stafford residents out of £23 million over the past year. The crackdown included eight successful prosecutions and 12 closure orders that shut down premises linked to criminal activity, while 43 businesses faced formal enforcement action for breaking regulations.
The enforcement push achieved significant results across multiple fronts. Officers saved £7.99 million through targeting scams and doorstep crime, directly contacting 140 victims to offer support. The team also removed more than 28,000 unsafe or counterfeit products from shelves before they could reach shoppers in Stafford and across the county.
Cabinet Member Anthony Screen highlighted the value delivered by the service, stating that for every £1 spent, the team helps save £11 in consumer detriment. Officers visited over 1,200 businesses across Stafford and the wider area, offering compliance advice with 95 per cent found to be compliant or brought into line with regulations.
The Trading Standards team focuses on three key areas: prevention, enforcement and education. By working with legitimate traders and targeting rogue operators, the service continues to protect local communities from harm while supporting honest businesses that play by the rules.