Trading Standards services are responsible for enforcing more than 80 Acts of Parliament.

These include the Weights and Measures Act 1985, The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 the Consumer Credit Act 1974, and enforcement provisions under Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002.

City of York Trading Standards' role is to protect consumers and honest traders by ensuring that trade is carried out lawfully, fairly and safely.

In working to promote a fair market in consumer goods and services, in any one week the service could be involved a range of activities.

These could include raiding premises manufacturing counterfeit goods, checking on animal health at a local market, and attempting to purchase age-restricted goods such as cigarettes, alcohol, videos rated 18 and knives (using children under strict supervision).

Trading Standards could also be involved in checking weighing and measuring equipment such as testing petrol pumps at local garages, purchasing potentially unsafe goods such as toys for testing, and checking out consumer credit advertisements in local stores and in newspapers.

Other tasks include checking shops are not charging more than the price shown, and investigating allegations that a trader has given a false description of goods or services.

We investigate allegations that offences under trading standards law have been committed and issue warnings to traders who break the law and prosecute in cases where our advice is ignored, public safety is put at risk or consumers misled.

Trading Standards also has a Consumer Advice Service which provides civil law advice, and assistance and help with suing and defending claims in the County Court, where the amount is less than £5,000.

An advice and education officer will also give talks to schools or community groups about consumer rights.

Residents who require advice on consumer issues should contact Consumer Direct, a new telephone and on line service for UK consumers, by phoning 08454 040506.

Callers whose enquiries warrant further assistance, or a face-to-face interview, will be referred to City of York Trading Standards.