11 Feb 2019 - Don't be scammed this Valentine's Day
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP) works with Citizens Advice in communities across Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham Borough to raise the awareness of scams. Online romance scams in RG postcodes are increasing with 29 reported cases from January to December last year; the victims' collective total loss was £215, 546. The PPP's Trading Standards service has the following scams clues to look out for this Valentine's Day...
11 Jan 2019 - 58% of Local Off-Licences Fail Alcohol Sales ID Test
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP), which delivers Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Licensing services across Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham Borough, has identified that 58% of 86 local off-licences tested in a recent test purchasing operation potentially breached their licence conditions by not asking for identification before selling alcohol to a 20 year old volunteer.
24 Oct 2018 - Builder sentenced to 54 months imprisonment
Following investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards supported by the PPP Joint Case Management Unit, on the 12 October 2018, at Reading Crown Court, Billy Sean Cole (35 years old) of Hawthorne Crescent, Blackwater, Camberley, pleaded guilty to one offence of fraudulent trading contrary to the Companies Act 2006 and six offences of money laundering contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
23 Oct 2018 - Tradesman sentenced after taking deposits for work never completed
Following an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards Service working with the PPP Joint Case Management Unit, on 12 October 2018 at Reading Crown Court Mr Marvin Little of Wheeler Avenue, Swindon, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two offences of fraud and two offences where work was incomplete and/or of a poor standard contrary the requirements of professional diligence under Regulation 3(3) of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
19 Oct 2018 - Targeting Rogue Traders in Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham
Trading Standards officers from the Public Protection Partnership have been working with Thames Valley Police to provide advice and take action across Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham during this year's National Rogue Trader Week, from 8 to 14 October 2018.
29 Sep 2018 - Rogue builder ordered to pay victims £73,093.91
Following investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards supported by the PPP Joint Case Management Unit, on the 27th July 2016, , Daniel Collins of Bourne Lake Park, Cricklade, Swindon pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court to six offences contrary to the S2 Fraud Act 2006 and three offences contrary to Regulation 7 & 11 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (Aggressive Commercial Practice). He was sentenced to 3½ years imprisonment when he appeared at Reading Crown Court.
26 Sep 2018 - West Berkshire Smokers Encouraged to Take Part in Stoptober 2018
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP), which delivers Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Licensing services across Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham, is inviting smokers in West Berkshire who want to quit to the Stoptober Roadshow in Northbrook Street, Newbury, this Saturday, 29 September.
25 Sep 2018 - Local Vape Stores Caught Selling to Underage Shoppers
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP), which delivers Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Licensing services across Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham, has recently identified that over 50% of local e-cigarette retailers in a survey of nine tested were breaking the law by selling vaping liquids to an underage teenager, in their recent test purchasing operation.
3 Jul 2018 - Landscaper sentenced for taking deposits and not completing work
On 29 June at Reading Magistrates' Court Mr Ryan Paul Campion, aged 26, of Rainbow Park, Winnersh, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two offences contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The sentencing, which followed an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards Service working with the PPP Joint Case Management Unit. The investigation followed an initial complaint to Trading Standards service about the tradesman.
26 Jun 2018 - Website Owner Sentenced for Duping Consumers into thinking it was the DVLA
At Reading Crown Court on 20th June 2018, Michael Freeman, 46, of Huntercombe Lane North, Taplow, Maidenhead, was sentenced to nine months in custody suspended for a period of two years after pleading guilty to engaging in an unfair commercial practice in relation to a website www.drivinglicenses.org.uk that consumers thought was the DVLA. In addition the Court set a timetable for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The sentencing followed an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards Service working with the PPP Case Management Unit and the National Trading Standards Tri-Region Investigation Team.
22 Jun 2018 - Community Alcohol Partnership launches in Thatcham
Media photocall 12 noon at Thatcham Family Fun Day, Henwick Worthy Sports Ground, Thatcham, RG18 3BU. A Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) will launch in Thatcham on 24 June with the aim of tackling underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.
21 Jan 2019 - Dog stolen in Cheshire is reunited in Berkshire with owner
A striking cream lurcher found in Finchampstead on Boxing Day has now been reunited with her owner thanks to the detective work of the Public Protection Partnership's (PPP) Animal Warden service. The PPP delivers Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing across Wokingham Borough, Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Councils.
22 Jan 2019 - Second-hand car salesman given four year jail sentence
Following an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP), Majad Hussain trading as House of Cars at Tidmarsh Lane, Tidmarsh, Berkshire, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, 21 January 2019, after pleading guilty to five offences of making false representations as to the conditions of used cars contrary to the Fraud Act 2006, four offences of possession of false stamps purporting to be from car servicing businesses contrary to the Fraud Act 2006 and one offence of possession of falsified service histories for motor vehicles.
27 Feb 2019 - Company directors to pay £40,000 compensation to Newbury homeowner
Nicholas Ford of Picton Way, Caversham, and Michael Evans of Kew Gardens, Marlborough, trading as Rivar Hill Holdings Limited (no connection to reputable Newbury company Rivar Ltd), were sentenced at Reading Crown Court on 25 February 2019 after pleading guilty to an offence under sections 3 and 8 of Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The convictions followed an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards Service working with the PPP Joint Case Management Unit and West Berkshire Legal Services.
6 Mar 2019 - Wokingham trader failed to exercise duty of care with respect to waste
Ricky Benham, aged 44, of Victoria Road, Wargrave, Wokingham, was convicted at Reading Magistrates Court on 1 March 2019 after pleading guilty to failing to comply with the duty of care required under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and for failing to register as a carrier of controlled waste before transporting the waste. Mr Benham was ordered to pay £1,030 in fines, surcharge and costs.
21 Mar 2019 - Shops in Bracknell and Newbury tested for underage knife sales
Trading Standards officers from the Public Protection Partnership have been supporting Thames Valley Police in Bracknell and Newbury during this year's National Knife Crime Awareness Week, from 11 to 17 March 2019.
18 Apr 2019 - Company fined for high pressure sales on Wokingham homeowner
Idrains Southern Ltd, of Henleaze House, Harbury Road, Bristol, was fined £2,500 at Reading Magistrates' Court on 12 April 2019 following an investigation by officers from the Public Protection Partnership Trading Standards team.
18 Jun 2019 - Doing our bit to tackle air pollution on Clean Air Day, 20 June (Bracknell Forest Council)
Thursday 20 June is Clean Air Day and the Public Protection Partnership which delivers Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards services across Bracknell Forest, Wokingham Borough and West Berkshire councils, is encouraging residents and businesses to take action to improve air quality across the three local authorities.
18 Jun 2019 - Doing our bit to tackle air pollution on Clean Air Day (West Berkshire Council)
Thursday 20 June is Clean Air Day and the Public Protection Partnership, which delivers Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards services across West Berkshire, Wokingham Borough and Bracknell Forest councils, is encouraging residents and businesses to take action to improve air quality across the three local authorities.
18 Jun 2019 - John Halsall says "Cut your engine and cut air pollution on Clean Air Day, 20 June 2019" (Wokingham Borough Council)
Thursday 20 June is Clean Air Day and Wokingham Borough Council is encouraging residents and businesses to take action to improve air quality.
19 Jul 2019 - Builders merchant fined £60,000 after forklift truck injures employee
Following both an accident investigation and subsequent prosecution by officers from the Public Protection Partnership (PPP), Jubilee Building Supplies Limited was sentenced at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on 15 July 2019 after pleading guilty to three offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 following an accident at its warehouse on John Nike Way, Bracknell.
30 Jul 2019 - Rogue trader given 12 month Community Order to do 160 hours unpaid work and pay victims £3,599 compensation
Kane Wootten, aged 23, of Wenlock Edge, Charvil, was convicted at Reading Magistrates' Court on 26 July 2019 after pleading guilty to two charges of fraud and three charges under consumer protection law. It followed an investigation by officers from the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards Team and a prosecuted by the PPP Joint Case Management Unit.
30 Jul 2019 - Wokingham off-licence fined for selling cider to 15 year old
Parmit Singh Kapoor, aged 29, of Hadley Gardens, Southall, London, was convicted at Reading Magistrates' Court on 26 July 2019 after pleading guilty to selling a single bottle of Kopparberg cider to a 15 year old volunteer at BB Wines, 23 Broad Street, Wokingham.
16 Sept 2019 - Gold national award for West Berkshire top canine carers
The Public Protection Partnership's canine carers have won a top national award for the gold standard way they look after stray dogs. For the tenth successive year the Animal Warden service has won the RSPCA's Footprint Award in its Community Animal Welfare Footprint (CAWF) Awards.
16 Sep 2019 - Gold national award for Wokingham top canine carers
16 Sep 2019 - Theale, Tilehurst and Calcot Community Alcohol Partnership launches on Friday
MEDIA PHOTOCALL on Friday 20 September at 9.30am at Sainsbury's Superstore in Calcot Reading, RG31 7SA to launch the new Theale, Tilehurst and Calcot Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP). The aim of the CAP is to reduce alcohol harm in Theale, Tilehurst and Calcot from drinking by young people under 25 with a particular emphasis on preventing underage drinking.
02 Oct 2019 - Shops in Newbury and Wokingham tested for underage knife sales
Trading Standards officers from the Public Protection Partnership supported the Thames Valley Police in Newbury and Wokingham with their ongoing work in relation to knife crime with a series of test purchase operations held last week.
18 Dec 2019 - Keeping Your Home Free from Damp and Mould
Keeping your home free from Damp and Mould. One of the main causes of damp and mould in your home is condensation. This article explains how condensation is formed and how to keep it to a minimum.
03 March 2020 - Car Idlying Myths
Dispelling myths around stopping and starting. If motorists can start making small changes today it will help to improve air quality for everyone and potentially reduce the likelihood of charges having to be imposed on certain vehicles entering urban areas.
03 March 2020 - Air Pollution Lung Cancer
Does air pollution cause lung conditions? Yes, research suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution can contribute to the development of some lung conditions. There's good evidence that outdoor air pollution contributes to lung cancer, and it's possible that long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to the development of asthma. It's unclear yet whether UK levels of outdoor air pollution have a role in causing COPD, but in the UK air pollution is a smaller risk factor than smoking.