Liz
Trading Standards Officer
| 09:30 Telephone call to consumer advice department |
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| Liz calls one of the council’s consumer advisers, who has received a complaint about a local pub, which is alleged to be adulterating beer and spirit measures. The adviser is also concerned about a mail order firm that seems to have disappeared after taking a great number of orders from hopeful customers. Liz agrees to investigate and get in touch with the Office of Fair Trading. |
| 10:00 Telephone calls to traders and clients |
| Liz speaks to a local firm that has asked for advice on Sunday trading in a central part of town; asks a package holiday company to justify its price offers; and agrees to attend a public meeting where residents are concerned about the opening of a sex shop in the area. |
| 11:15 Visit to Quart Products Ltd. |
| Liz is concerned about the accuracy of the term ‘mushroom protein’ used in the labelling on a meat substitute. She visits the firm responsible to check the facts and take some samples. |
| 12:15 Follow-up to visit |
| While the case is fresh in her mind, Liz speaks to the Food Standards Agency. She also takes advice from a university professor of food policy, who feels the company are guilty of misleading labelling. As there are also concerns about claims that the product causes stomach problems, Liz asks the environmental health department to investigate. |
| 14:00 Meeting with line manager |
| Liz seeks guidance from the principal trading standards officer as to which cases merit legal prosecution in the magistrates’ courts. This starts off the process of collecting further evidence, serving statutory notices and arranging for court attendance. Liz also takes this chance to ask her manager about opportunities for further training - possibly a postgraduate qualification in health and safety. |
| 14:45 Paperwork |
| Liz spends the rest of the day writing up reports and preparing for a two-day conference she is about to attend, and for which she leaves at 17:30. |