William Eichler 21 August 2019

County council’s trading standards team seizes £23m of unsafe items

A trading standards team in Suffolk has seized nearly one million unsafe consumer items at the Port of Felixstowe.

Figures for 2018/19 show that 996,143 items across 670 product lines were targeted, assessed and detained at the port by Suffolk County Council’s Trading Standards Imports Team.

The total value of the goods is estimated to be around £23m.

Four in 5 of the UK’s consumer goods arrive in the UK by a container. Half of these enter via the Port of Felixstowe.

Suffolk is one of the few authorities to host a dedicated Imports Team, which is directly funded by National Trading Standards.

Cllr Richard Rout, cabinet member for Environment and Public Protection at Suffolk County Council, said that the team’s work has potentially saved ‘hundreds of lives’.

‘The Imports Team plays a vital role at the Port of Felixstowe. Their work not only protects the people of Suffolk, but everyone in the UK, by preventing unsafe items finding their way into the supply chain,’ he said.

‘The team is constantly monitoring items coming into the country which could cause significant harm. Just from these recently detained items, it is not an over-exaggeration to say that hundreds of lives have potentially been saved.

‘A single unsafe electrical item could result in a house fire, involving all our emergency services, putting multiple lives and property in danger. The fact that we are detaining such a large number of these items every year, reduces those risks considerably.’

Making payment processes smarter  image

Making payment processes smarter

It can be challenging to find the right software to streamline payment processes. Lewis McKenna-Crisp argues SmarterPay has the ideal solution for councils.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Graduate Trainee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

North Yorkshire Council
£25,183 - £30,559
Could you help us deliver Electric Vehicle infrastructure to support this new transformation mode of transport. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Contracts and Strategy Officer

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£41,442 - £44,331
Royal Greenwich is on the up! Having achieved a 3.8% increase in our recycling rate this year Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Senior Developer

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£52,584 - £69,068
Royal Greenwich is a vibrant borough, with a rich history and diverse community. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

SEND Operations Assistant - 2 year FTC

Essex County Council
£25081 - £26679 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
SEND Operations AssistantFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 to £26,679 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Welfare Benefits & Money Advice Caseworker

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band E SCP 18-25 (£30,559 - £35,235 per annum
We have an exciting opportunity for a skilled individual to join our Welfare Rights Team Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner