All these issues and more will be explored when Teesside University hosts the Trading Standards Institutes’ Northern Branch Conference on Tuesday 7 September.
The annual conference is taking place from 8.45am to 4.35pm, in the University’s Stephenson Building. It is tailored towards trading standards’ professionals, enforcement officers and consumer law students and aims to raise awareness and address a number of topical areas. Speakers include:
>Shazad Khalid: Teesside University forensic investigation and consumer law graduate Shaz spent the last year of his degree working undercover for his final-year dissertation on behalf of the North East Trading Standards’ Association, looking at the area of niche tobacco products, particularly those sold by the ethnic community. He has highlighted a problem that exists in the North East and will demonstrate his knowledge about such products and the problems with their sale and packaging.
>Nigel Cates: Deputy Director, Consumer Credit -OFT Nigel will update on the latest changes and future legislative proposals related to Consumer Credit. >Faye Hudson BSkyB: Faye is the Manager within the Intelligence and Investigations Department at BSkyB, involved in developing relationships with outside agencies. Faye wishes to address the problem of illicit set top boxes which allow access to pay TV. This talk will give trading standards officers an understanding of the type of devices to look for and who to contact if they have any questions. BSkyB also have forensic and surveillance capabilities which trading standards staff could use to develop these cases alongside BSkyB .
John Whisson, senior lecturer in Consumer Law, said: 'This is an opportunity for trading standards professionals in the North to update their skills and knowledge and a rare occasion where they can meet and have time to discuss common enforcement policies and strategy. In a world where cuts to budgets are all too pervasive it is so important to keep up with training and new developments.'
The delegate cost is £65, for more details contact John Whisson on 01642-342519 or email: clconference@tees.ac.uk