Exclusive:How trading standards prosecutions have plunged in Sheffield

The number of trading standards prosecutions carried out by Sheffield Council has plunged in 10 years.

Figures obtained by The Star from a Freedom of Information request, show that in 2015, there were 17 members of staff in the department, of which seven were Trading Standards Officers. Over the year, the council received 8,348 complaints, the carried out 66 prosecutions.

However, last year there were 13 members of staff, in the department, three of whom were trading standards officers. And the 8,273 complaints recorded on their database led to 17 prosecutions, just under a quarter of the 2015 figure.

The figures revealed by The Star come after a report by the Consumers Assocation’s publication Which? claimed that nationally, Trading Standards Services were fragmented, under-resourced, and operating without the data infrastructure needed for effective intelligence-led enforcement.

On of their conclusions was: “Resources vary drastically between different Trading Standards Services, with some operating with clearly inadequate resource levels.”

When they published their report last summer, they stated Sheffield had 1.87 trading standards staff per 100,000 people. The British average was 3.70, and the English average was 3.11.

Tim Huggan, the Lib Dem opposition spokesman, said he thought the council needed a clear, active plan.

He said: “Over many years Sheffield hasn’t had enough trading standards officers, with many retiring in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. The City Council needs to have a clear, active plan to make sure that Sheffield has enough Trading Standards Officers to make sure complaints are dealt with and prosecutions are made when necessary.”

However, Sheffield Council puts the change in the number of trading standards officers it employs down to more full time staff rather than part time, and says that the number of hours of officer time is the same as 2015. It also says says there is now more preventative work, leading to fewer prosecutions.

Councillor Mark Rusling, chairman of Sheffield Council’s Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee, said: “In 2015, a greater proportion of Trading Standards officers worked part-time. Today, more officers are in full-time roles, meaning overall staffing hours remain broadly the same.

“The Trading Standards team continues to deliver excellent results, particularly in prosecuting high-profile cases.”

He said a recent case saw a rogue painter and decorator, Lucien Carter, receive a suspended prison sentence and a Criminal Behaviour Order, thanks to the team’s determination to bring him to justice. He added the department’s support and advice also helped the victim recover over £36,000 from their bank.

He also described the council’s trading standards team having carried out a successful prosecution at Sheffield Crown Court against Mr Barzen Mahmood-Poor for selling illegal tobacco and vape products.

He was ordered to pay £21,285 within three months to avoid imprisonment and received a total confiscation order of £228,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).In addition, he received a six-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

He said the examples highlighted how the team’s work made a big difference to people’s lives, and that the positive feedback from victims of scams was a clear testament to the team’s impact.

Officials say that alongside prosecution, its staff take a proactive, disruption-led approach to tackling consumer crime.

This includes using enforcement powers to target criminal activity on the high street, rather than relying solely on court action.

As a result, more counterfeit goods and illegal vapes were being seized, and there had been an increase in licence reviews for premises selling alcohol, which was directly disrupting criminal operations.

“Closure orders will also be used more frequently as current cases progress through the system, “ added Coun Rusling.

“The team also plans to expand the use of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), supported by recent legislative changes.”

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