Bassetlaw: Council proud to have been keeping standards high for 125 years

The weights and measures inspector’s role involved checking the weights and measuring equipment in market places, shops and pubs as well as testing foods to ensure they were correctly labelled and not containing inappropriate ingredients.

Today, the trading standards team has broadened its role to address non-food related consumer issues such as internet scams, doorstep crime, dangerous electrical items and the mis-selling of products and services.

Coun Glynn Gilfoyle, chairman of the council’s community safety committee, said: “There has always been unscrupulous traders looking to make a quick buck.”

“But the types of scams have changed over the years and the council’s trading standards team has adapted with the times to protect local consumers.”

“Food fraud was common in the early days, while a great problem in the 21st Century is counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol which often contain higher rates of toxic substances, along with broader consumer issues such as doorstep crime and internet fraud.

“I’m proud to be chairman of a service that has been protecting the public so long.”