Noticeboard Ahead of the competition: teen wins toy design award A 14 year old girl who designed a new toy described as being ahead of the competition has been congratulated by trading standards professionals and experts in the toy industry. Shannon Pardoe was the overall winner of Playsafe 2016 at the British Toy and Hobby Associations (BTHAs) annual Toy Fair in London at the end of January. The pupil from Highsted Grammar School, Kent, impressed the judges with her Wack A Math toy. Her design incorporates safety features but also has a fun, educational twist that challenges players toanswer maths questions correctly. Playsafe is an annual competition, organised by CTSI and the BTHA, to encourage young people to design toys that reflect appropriate product-safety requirements. Shannons design was chosen from more than 250 entries as the overall winner, after she took first place in the 12-17-year category. She was awarded 100 for herself and 1,000 for her school. Steve Rock, head of Kent Trading Standards, said: The Playsafe competition encourages young peopleto be imaginative, as well as teaching them what safety features to look out for when choosing toys. We are proud of Shannons achievement. gOT aN OpINION? We want to hear it. Email tstoday@ tsi.org.uk to add your voice to the discussion. We reserve the right to edit letters. Ip crime report have your say Trading standards officers are being asked to take part in the 12th edition of the IP Crime Report being compiled by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). The report gives an important assessment of the level of intellectual property crime activity in the UK, and officers input can be made between 31 March and 5 May. A link to the survey will be published in the April 2017 edition of TS Today. Unique and shared worldwide, the report is read by government ministers and senior law enforcers. The trading standards survey is an important part of it, and contributions from every local authority are vital. The survey not Banks urged, on air, to have a duty of care CTSI lead officer Steve Playle criticised banks for not doing more to protect fraud victims and outlined what they could be doing when he was interviewed on Radio 4s Money Box programme last month. The programme featured the case of a London couple in their 60s, who withdrew their life savings over a couple of months and paid the money to a conman, on the promise of a great PPI return. Most of the cash withdrawals and deposits were made at their local branch of Santander, which now faces questions about why it didnt do more to query this activity. You can listen to the programme on the BBCs iPlayer. only helps create a picture of IP crime in the UK, but provides the opportunity to identify and improve the support such as IP training and awareness that the IPO can offer to local trading standards. Anyone with questions about the report or any other IP crimerelated matter can email enforcement@ipo.gov.uk davies sticking around as Institute of licensing chairman The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has extended Daniel Davies term as chairman until February 2020. Under his leadership, the IoL has grown its National Training Conference, and launched the first National Licensing Week. In September 2016, Davies represented the IoL at an inquiry, by the House of Lords Select Committee, into potential reforms of the Licensing Act 2003. He has also overseen an extensive organisation rebrand, with the relaunch of the institutes website and journal. Nominate a hero! Do you know a trading standards hero? Then CTSI wants to hear fromyou. CTSI hosts the Hero Awards at its flagship annual conference, which this year will be held in Harrogate from 26-29 June. The awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate individuals or groups who make outstanding contributions towards consumer protection in their communities. Every year, the award judges are inspired by the stories of nominees from around the country whose bravery, altruism and hard work often doesnt receive due recognition. Last year, Tina Stewart, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, was recognised for her efforts to champion disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers despite having cerebral palsy herself. She was presented with a CTSI Hero Award after winning back several thousand poundsfor other people from utility companies, retailers and mobility goods providers. Other winners included pensioner John Bell, who bravely gave evidence against the conmen who tricked him into signing over his 250,000 home, plus GP James Mallon and retired teacher Helen Mallon, who were praised for helping warn others about the dangersof scams, after they found themselves on a so-called suckers list and lost thousands. Application forms for the awards are available from CTSIs website, and the deadline for submissions is Monday 3 April. Awardwinners will be notified of their success at least one month ahead of the ceremony. S av E T H E DaT E Regulatory Delivery is holding its first Product Safety and Legal Metrology seminar on 3-4 May at the Westminster Conference Centre. This free event is an opportunity for professionals working or leading in the fields of both product safety and legal metrology regulation, to engage with policymakers, businesses and colleagues to share best practice and consider future priorities. please register your interest. lords Brexit debate raises uk customer-protection issue the minister tell the House what protection will be offered to UK consumers buying faulty goods across borders once we are no longer part of the EU, and no longer involved in developing the EUs digital single market? Lord Prior of Brampton replied: I cannot foresee the outcome of Istock.com/twIlIghtproductIons The question of what protections will be offered to UK customers when the UK leaves the European Union (EU) was discussed in the House of Lords in February. Baroness Crawley raised the issue of the increase in online scams, as evidenced by trading standards officers, asking: Will the negotiations; all I can say is that we understand the issue she raises. We have already demonstrated through our support for the alternative disputes resolution and the extra money we are putting into the Chartered Trading Standards Institute that this is an issue we take very seriously. touchstone Award say what? The pedestrian had no idea which direction to run, so I ran over him. OK, so this classic is from an old insurance claim, but were sure there must be many similar Did they really say that? tales from across the trading standards profession. Other gems from insurance claimants who had to describe what happened in the fewest possible words, include: The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him; and I saw a slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the roof of my car. If you have a funny or unusual trading standards anecdote, or amusing one-liner from a rogue trying to defend their actions, wed love to hear from you! Well be featuring your gags in future issues of TS Review, so please email us to share your stories. The British Hallmarking Council is inviting individuals and departments within trading standards to apply for its Touchstone Award. Sponsored by the British Hallmarking Council and the UKs four assay offices based in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield the award celebrates local authorities and individuals who can demonstrate their dedicated efforts in pursuing hallmarking fraudsters. Entries can include: an enforcement scheme; an educational programme; an information activity; or a published article. The prize consists of: the coveted Touchstone Award; an individual winner award; a full day of hallmarking training for up to 10 people at the London Assay Office; and an award-winners lunch at Goldsmiths Hall, London. Full details are available here and entries need to be received by 28 April. To apply, download an application form, or for more information, email Robert Grice or call him on 01924 299002. The editorial team SpECIaL OFFEr Jordan Publishing is offering CTSI members a 20 per cent discount on the new edition of The Pink Book, Consumer and Trading Standards: Law and Practice. To take advantage of this offer, go to Jordan publishings website and enter the promotional code G976 at the checkout. Cutting consumer bills is a CA target Citizens Advice has set out the consumer issues it will tackle in the year ahead, with the launch of its work plan for 2017/18. Areas of focus include access to fair and affordable essential services, cutting bills, and securing value for money in markets that arent working. The plan has been shaped by the charitys policy research, and by using data from the millions of people who seek help from Citizens Advice with their consumer problems. The work plan is open for consultation with stakeholders until 9 March, with the final version due for publication on 20 March. Comments can be addressed to the admin team.