Noticeboard CTSI wreath laid for D-Day hero In April, Justin Miller, from Southwark Trading Standards, laid a wreath on behalf of CTSI on the grave of Lieutenant Den Brotheridge – a weights and measures inspector – in France. Brotheridge was the rst Allied soldier to be killed on D-Day after he landed in Normandy. Miller is pictured by the Pegasus Bridge memorial to Brotheridge’s regiment – the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry – which captured the bridge on the night of 5/6 June 1944. The regiment later became the Royal Green Jackets, and Miller served in its territorial army unit. Miller went on the D-Day tour to see where his grandfather was buried. When he realised he would be visiting Ranville, where Brotheridge has been laid to rest, he contacted CTSI and was honoured to be able to lay the wreath on the organisation’s behalf. He said it was ‘a very moving experience – as was the whole tour’. Three Yards a Penny gets sterling review Robert Grice’s engaging book Three Yards a Penny, about trading standards of yesteryear, has received a rst-class review from chartered environmental health practitioner Ian Gray in Environmental Health News. Gray describes the book as a ‘goldmine of interesting facts’. He goes on: ‘Grice has selected, collated and presented the information in a way that takes the reader on a journey through the world of the weights and measures inspector. There are many photographs and drawings that will entice you to dip in and out. ‘I was certainly tempted by the illustrations of measuring and weighing equipment, the purpose and workings of which are succinctly explained in terms that we can all understand. This book will be greatly prized by those who work in or with our modern trading standards services. But, for everyone else, it is also a fascinating insight into the activities and concerns of one of our oldest professions.’ Grice’s book was on display at Conference, where many people took the opportunity to order a copy. If you missed this chance, you can place an order through CTSI, at a cost of £12, plus £3 postage and packing. Alternatively, a donation may be made for each book (minimum £15). Please send cheques (made out to ‘Trading Standards Institute’) to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Accounts Section, 1 Sylvan Way, Sylvan Court, South elds Business Park, Basildon, Essex SS15 6TH. Please include your name and address, and state how many copies you require. All proceeds go to the CTSI College of Fellows, enabling the college to enhance its charitable activities for members of CTSI. One million scam letters stopped Royal Mail has announced that it has successfully prevented one million letters sent by scammers from reaching homes since last November. The milestone follows the launch of several new initiatives, including: an industry-wide response to tackle fraudulent mail at its source; changes to the terms and conditions governing bulk mail contracts that enable Royal Mail to refuse to carry mail that is suspected to be fraudulent; and contacting households receiving high volumes of scam mail. These initiatives build on work the National Trading Standards Scams Team has done with Royal Mail, such as introducing a new process for terminating the mailings of companies that send fraudulent mail, and training thousands of frontline workers in how to identify scam mail and spot potential victims. Louise Baxter, from the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said: ‘As well as leaving people out of pocket, victims are often left feeling a sense of shame and social isolation. That’s why we’re working so hard with Royal Mail to help identify fraudulent mail, to stop it from reaching households in the rst place.’ Consumer Dispute Resolution Limited (CDRL) – the private company set up to provide dispute resolution for consumers – has resigned from the Ombudsman Association (OA), its trade body, which means that it is no longer using the ‘ombudsman’ title. CDRL wanted to expand its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) offering under The Retail Ombudman brand into sectors beyond the high street and online retail. However, last year, the OA introduced a rule that it would only allow one ombudsman scheme per sector, which meant that CDRL would not be able to continue with its expansion plans as an ombudsman. CDRL now operates four alternative dispute resolution schemes – AviationADR, UtilitiesADR, CommsADR and RetailADR. The company said the decision to move to non-ombudsman status had been made to allow the growth of the ADR model. It said the relevant competent authorities, which authorise CDRL under The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Amendment) Regulations 2015, have been supportive of the transition. 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. Retail Ombudsman will no longer use ‘ombudsman’ title safe-tanning resource available for tsOs to use Essex Trading Standards – alongside local Public Health partners – has produced a short animation video pointing out the risks associated with sunbed use, and offering guidance on how to tan safely. the animation has been uploaded to Youtube and is available for other trading standards teams to use. Essex has done a lot of work in recent years to bring firms into compliance with the European safe limit for UV- emitted irradiation from sunbeds (0.3 W/m2). The film’s carefully presented health messages include the prohibition of under-18s having access to sunbeds, as stated in the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010. It follows the EU’s legal framework that says sunbeds are legal and safe to use provided they are operated within strict limits. istOck.cOm / geORgecleRk