In what circumstances will Trading Standards investigate a business?

Trading Standards Officers will have their own criteria for pursuing an investigation but common factors which are taken into account following a complaint are:

• The amount of money involved and number of customers or businesses affected
• The vulnerability of the victim(s)
• Complaints involving food and a risk to public health and wellbeing
• Significant breaches of animal health and welfare legislation with a risk of disease outbreak or affecting farm animals
• Failure to comply with a statutory notice, written advice or other formal commitment to comply with the law
• Complaints about related organised criminal activity, such as doorstep crime
• Obstruction, assault or impersonation of an authorised officer.