Trading Standards Data
Case reference FOI2026/00089
Received 14 January 2026
Published 27 February 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information. For the purposes of this request, a ‘tradespeople’ refers to any individual providing professional services in skilled trades, such as plumbing, building, electrical work, carpentry, and other related manual or technical services.
• The number of open investigations that Trading Standards has into tradespeople suspected of breaching consumer protection law.
• The number of times Herefordshire Council Trading Standards took enforcement action against tradespeople suspected of breaching consumer protection law during the following years: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
• The frequency with which breaches of CMA guidance were cited in complaints submitted to Herefordshire Council Trading Standards concerning tradespeople.
• The number of staff employed by Herefordshire Council Trading Standards during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021).
• The number of staff who have left Herefordshire Council Trading Standards in 2025 during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021), through each of the following ways (moved roles internally, left Herefordshire Council Trading Standards voluntarily, made redundant).
• Budget allocated to Herefordshire Council Trading Standards during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021). I would prefer to receive the information electronically. UPDATE FOLLOWING CLARIFICATION: for the final question please provide just the amount of money that was allocated
Response
For the purposes of this request, a ‘tradespeople’ refers to any individual providing professional services in skilled trades, such as plumbing, building, electrical work, carpentry, and other related manual or technical services.
• The number of open investigations that Trading Standards has into tradespeople suspected of breaching consumer protection law.
A: 3
• The number of times Herefordshire Council Trading Standards took enforcement action against tradespeople suspected of breaching consumer protection law during the following years: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
A:
|
Year |
Prosecutions |
Other/redress/interventions gained for consumers |
Total Formal Outcomes |
|
25-26 so far |
1 |
14 |
15 |
|
24-25 |
5 |
14 |
19 |
|
23-24 |
11 |
12 |
23 |
|
22-23 |
- |
9 |
9 |
|
21-22 |
5 |
19 |
24 |
|
20-21 |
8 |
19 |
27 |
• The frequency with which breaches of CMA guidance were cited in complaints submitted to Herefordshire Council Trading Standards concerning tradespeople.
A: The Service Area have advised that we cannot state the frequency of breaches of CMA guidance that were cited in complaints; we do not record that information
• The number of staff employed by Herefordshire Council Trading Standards during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021).
A: 2025 – 7 operational officers (includes 2 apprentices) + 1 service manager (responsible for other service areas in addition to trading standards)
2024 – 5 operational officers - + 1 service manager (responsible for other service areas in addition to trading standards)
2023 – 7 operational officers - + 1 service manager (responsible for other service areas in addition to trading standards)
2022 – 8 operational officers - + 1 service manager (responsible for other service areas in addition to trading standards)
2021 – 8 operational officers - + 1 service manager (responsible for other service areas in addition to trading standards)
• The number of staff who have left Herefordshire Council Trading Standards in 2025 during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021), through each of the following ways (moved roles internally, left Herefordshire Council Trading Standards voluntarily, made redundant).
A: 3
• Budget allocated to Herefordshire Council Trading Standards during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021).
A: Base Budget is as follows:
2021 £274,735
2022 £267,957
2023 £291,673
2024 £265,614
2025 £288,613
Documents
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