As Thurrock is the ports capital of the UK, making sure that unsafe items do not enter the country is a real challenge for the Ports team at Thurrock Council, but they have more than stepped up to the plate.
The team in Thurrock intercepts a third of all non-compliant and unsafe products entering the UK. For that they have been awarded the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Product Safety Hero Award.
Items intercepted by the Port Team include life-endangering carcinogenic face creams, fire-risk hairdryers and dangerous toys. In the last quarter of 2018 alone, the team confiscated over 88,000 unsafe products that could have caused serious harm to UK families.
Chief Executive at CTSI, Leon Livermore, said: “Tackling dangerous products before they can get into the hands of unsuspecting consumers is an extremely challenging and vital role for trading standards, and one that the Port Team at Thurrock excel. We’re lucky to have this dedicated team keeping us safe.”
Leader of the Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill said: “Our Trading Standards Ports Team has received £177,000 in funding from the National Trading Standards Board for 2019/20. They work tirelessly to identify dangerous, consumer products and confiscate such items before they make their way into the hands of unsuspecting shoppers.”
“Thurrock is a gateway for the world, so our officers’ work potentially protects millions of people from harm or serious injury. Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved.”
The Thurrock Port Team will be presented with its award by Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price, and Sarah Smith, Deputy Director at the Office for Product Safety and Standards, who supported this year’s Product Safety Award category.
Jackie said, ‘Trading Standards officers are the unsung heroes of public protection. The team here in Thurrock have achieved amazing results and have genuinely saved the public from harm. I am very grateful for all they do to protect us.”