Latest News - Trading Standards

Links below to the most recent Trading Standards publications.

• 24 October 2012 - Club Class Holidays wound up
• 12 June 2012 - Drip-drip scam leaves victims barking mad
• 14 March 2012 - National alert over jequirity bean bracelets
• 1 March 2012 - Stay Safe online
• 25 January 2012 - Bogus advertising scam alert
• 22 November 2011 - "Still work to be done" to stamp out underage sales of alcohol
• 3 November 2011 - Used Car Activity - Know your consumer rights - Office of Fair Trading video link.
• 26 October 2011 - Car firm fined after selling unroadworthy vehicle
• 27 April 2011 - Illegal Tobacco and Alcohol - Retailer Guidance
• 24 February 2011 - Staying safe on-line - that's the ticket!
• 28 January 2011 - Fight the scammers, urge trading standards
• 29 October 2010 - Beat-the-scammers advice pack for older residents
• 27 October 2010 - Remember, remember the 5th November
• 21 October 2010 - An update on the Daniels Knife case (BBC Website link)
• 04 August 2010 - RBWM Trading Standards are now on You Tube demonstrating their work at Ascot Racecourse.
• 1 January 2010 - Hallmark and Palladium

• 27 November 2009 - Daniel knife case thrown out after 'food preparation gadget' claim

The historic Daniel department store escaped the wrath of the courts this week after arguing that a knife it sold to a teenager was in fact a 'food preparation gadget'. The Royal Borough's trading standards officers were disappointed after magistrates threw out their case against the Peascod Street shop.

The prosecution was brought after a test purchase when a trained teenager aged under 18 went into the store in February - accompanied by trading standards officers - and was sold a grapefruit knife.

The controversial knife is eight-and-a-half inches long and is designed to scoop the flesh of a grapefruit away from the skin. Magistrates at Bracknell threw out the council's case on Wednesday, accepting the defence argument that the knife was a 'food preparation gadget' and therefore not a knife under the terms of the 1988 Criminal Justice Act invoked by the council. The council's Trading Standards manager Steve Johnson said: "We're shocked and really disappointed by this decision. The legislation makes it an offence to sell a knife to a person under the age of 18. "The product was described by both Daniel's and its suppliers as a knife and I think any reasonable person looking at the product would without hesitation call it a knife."

• 4 November 2009 - Beware of con men selling fake paintings

Scam artists are living up to their name in the borough. Trading Standards are warning about a group of young criminals who are selling counterfeit art work.

The doorstep criminals are cold calling residents and selling paintings, which they claim they have painted themselves. They are being sold for between £50 and £80 and extra is charged if the householder agrees to have the painting framed. However the paintings have been found to be mass produced in China and are worth no more than £5.

Trading Standards has reiterated its advice not to buy any goods or services at the door. If anyone gets such a call they should contact trading standards on 01628 683802 or at trading.standards@rbwm.gov.uk as soon as possible.

• 27 May 2009 - Rogue traders given a clear message - the Royal Borough is a no-go area
• 11 May 2009 - College owner and Manager learn a lesson
• 27 January 2009 - Bin the conmen, urge Trading Standards
• 21 January 2009 - Just the ticket - trading standards advice

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