TRADING standards are calling on the public and honest businesses to join them in the fight against Sandwell’s rogue traders and unsafe practices in the food industry.

The council’s team wants to hear about rogue traders preying on older people and poor practices in the food industry such as re-labelling and food adulteration.

They also want to hear about suspected scams and sales of alcohol and tobacco to young people, as well as loan sharks and scrap metal collectors.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “The successful work that trading standards does relies upon the information and intelligence they receive from the public and honest businesses to help them identify problems.

“The quality and amount of intelligence is crucial if we are to have a full picture and that is why we are calling on residents and businesses to tell us about any trade practices they think are detrimental to them, their family, friends or business.

“This is not an exhaustive list and we can be contacted with any information which people think may be relevant.”

Bob Charnley, trading standards and licensing manager, added: “We are always happy to receive information from any source to help us in our work.

“It may be that people working in a food processing plant have been asked to do something that they are not comfortable with such as changing date labels.

“Or it could be that someone's next door neighbour is selling counterfeit goods on the internet.

“People can contact us anonymously if they wish.”

Reports can be made online at www.sandwell.gov.uk/tradingstandards or by calling 03454 04 05 06, while residents who need help or advice with a consumer problem should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on the same number.