MARC TURCAN / SHUTTERSTOCK Breach of restraint leads straight to jail without passing Goa IEF N BR SI NEW The Ofcom board has announced that Ed Richards will stand down as chief executive at the end of December 2014. He will continue to lead on all operational, financial, economic, competition and policy matters until that date. 1 2 3 Click numbers for more stories An investigation by Surrey Trading Standards has demonstrated the benefit of taking a robust line when a defendant breaches a restraintorder issued under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and has been warmly welcomed by the financial investigation community. The two defendants, Mr and Mrs A, are charged with a number of frauds against elderly and vulnerable victims, and substantial moneylaundering offences. The charges relate to property maintenance and repair work. A restraint order was obtained at Guildford Crown Court in October 2012 to prevent the dissipation of assets, including the defendants home and vehicles. However, enquiries undertaken after the serving of summonses established that both defendants had opened separate accounts passing 22,000 and 53,000 respectively through them after the issue of the restraint order. Surreys accredited financial investigator sought production orders on the new accounts, and identified activity that was in breach of the restraint. Spending on one of the accounts amounted to more than 7,000 a month way in excess of the 250 limit stipulated in the order. Neither defendant has ever attempted to vary the restraint order, and both defendants pleaded guilty to contempt. Further evidence from the accounts has identified morevictims, and led to additional charges of fraud and money laundering. Mrs A was sentenced at an earlier hearing at Guildford Crown Court for the contempt, and was handed an eight-month suspended prisonsentence, and an order to repay the 22,000 of assets that went through the account. However, in sentencing Mr A to six months in prison, the judge referred to the flagrant breach of the restraint order, and said that the sentence must have a punitive and coercive element, and serve as a deterrent to demonstrate that breaches are not overlooked. Reference was also made to the defendants spending habits of 7,000 per month, and the fact he had taken holidays in Barcelona and Goa during thistime. The trial for the fraud and money laundering matters isdue to take place early nextyear. Roundtable tackles consumer protection and product safety MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES / SHUTTERSTOCK IEF N BR SI NEW Electrical Safety Firsts inaugural roundtable on product safety, recalls and traceability had representatives from leading manufacturers, retailers and trade and enforcement agencies discussing key issues about how to protect consumers. The talks focused primarily on recall notices and traceability systems and the impact of consumer behaviour on recall effectiveness. The success of any product recall requires effective traceability to the end consumers, said Martyn Allen, head of technical at Electrical Safety First. But, while recalls and traceability are obviously inextricably linked, each needs to be considered separately when developing improved processes. One idea arising from the roundtable was the creation of a process map, which would break down the complexity of product design, production and after-market processes, so specific issues could be addressed and prioritised. This would support an overall improvement to product safety and particularly recall and traceability outcomes. Other discussions considered how new technologies, such as radio frequency identification or QR codes, could be used to identify manufacturers and consumers more easily. But, once again, the consumer issue took centre stage at the event with previous research indicating almost two million adults have consciously ignored a recalled electrical item. Allen said: The need to improve consumer awareness of and response to recalls is one we are acutely aware of. As a result, we have commissioned a detailed consumer research project, to help identify the best format and communication channels for recall, and to help manufacturers and retailers understand key motivators for consumers to act. The research will be launched at Electrical Safety Firsts fourth Product Safety Conference on 12 November, at Church House, Westminster. For more information, email: pat.sheldrake@electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk Perfect Strand company director Maddison Hawk, of Witney, Oxon, was fined 2,500 for selling fake GHDbranded goods. One hairdryer burst into flames when tested. The investigation was conducted by Oxfordshire Trading Standards, and Hawk admitted four trademark offence charges, on behalf of her company, at Oxford Magistrates Court in October. 1 2 3 Click numbers for more stories IEF BR S IN NEW Hertfordshire Trading Standards is warning that a scam, called the Peoples Postcode Lottery, is circulating among consumers. Officers are investigating after being made aware of a couple, from Waltham Cross, who recently lost money to this con. They have also had reports of the bogus-lottery letters being received by people in Much Hadham, Puckeridge and Hoddesdon, as well as other areas of the country. 1 2 3 Click numbers for more stories