The Trading Standards service exists to:
- protect individuals, communities and businesses from harm and financial loss
- help businesses to thrive by maintaining a fair trading environment
- improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities
- fulfil our statutory responsibilities to deliver consumer and public protection services across Buckinghamshire and ßÙßÇÂþ»
Our context, challenges and opportunities:
The Service will continue to consider all options when tackling criminal activity, including prosecution and alternative enforcement approaches, i.e. disruption.
Local Government Reorganisation will cause changes for the service. These will affect our joint Service and will also affect neighbouring Trading Standards Services. In the long term this may cause changes to the regional support structures which we rely on. We will ensure that decision makers have the information they require in a timely way to enable them to make informed decisions.
New legislation is expected during the year, including some covering products of significant concern to our communities including vapes, tobacco and knives. The Services’ work on vapes and illegal tobacco is expected to remain at very high levels as it supports all three of the Key Actions below and has a significant impact on places.
We will focus and co-ordinate our activities to provide better outcomes for residents and communities.
Leaving no one behind is vital. We will continue to support an equal, diverse and inclusive society both within our teams and more widely, supporting communities and individuals.
Our key actions:
We will support the delivery of Buckinghamshire Council’s and ßÙßÇÂþ»’s strategic aims.
1. Protecting the most vulnerable. Tackling fraudulent, illegal and unfair trading practices with a particular focus on activities to disrupt criminal activity.
2. Enabling businesses to get the help and support they need to thrive and grow. Delivering public protection through proactive and reactive advice/information, supporting businesses to improve regulatory compliance and ensure a level playing field.
3. Improving wellbeing and public health; tackling the supply of unsafe, dangerous or age restricted products and working to maintain the integrity of the food chain from farm to fork, including food quality, nutrition, and animal health.