Please note the following information:
The data given relates to the Heart of the South West Trading Standards area – which includes the areas covered by Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council (since April 2021), Somerset Council and Torbay Council.
1. How many FTE members of staff were employed by your trading standards service in 2018/19?
69.96
2. How many FTE members of staff were employed by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
79.93 (after merging with Plymouth Trading Standards)
3. How many FTE members of staff were employed by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
72.2
4. How many FTE vacancies (if any) were your trading standards service carrying in 2018/19?
Devon County Council does not hold this information.
5. How many FTE vacancies (if any) were your trading standards service carrying in 2022/23?
Devon County Council does not hold this information.
6. How many FTE vacancies (if any) were your trading standards service carrying in 2025/26?
0
Trading standards activities
1. How many enforcement visits were carried out by your trading standards service in 2018/19?
1,817
2. How many enforcement visits were carried out by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
1,218
3. How many enforcement visits were carried out by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
1,315
4. How many prosecutions were commenced by your trading standards service in 2019/19?
Prosecutions process was commenced with the courts against 7 defendants.
5. How many prosecutions were commenced by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
Prosecutions process was commenced with the courts against 9 defendants.
6. How many prosecutions were commenced by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
Prosecutions process was commenced with the courts against 17 defendants.
7. How many informal cautions, letters of advice and written warnings were issued by your trading standards service in 2018/19?
2018/19 – 4 Cautions,
19 Service Warning Letters,
189 written advice.
8. How many informal cautions, letters of advice and written warnings were issued by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
2022/23 – 0 Cautions,
23 Service Warning Letters,
975 written advice.
9. How many informal cautions, letters of advice and written warnings were issued by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
2025/26 – 3 Cautions,
8 Service Warning Letters,
409 written advice.
10. How many age restricted test purchases (e.g. alcohol and tobacco, vapes, fireworks, knives etc) were carried out by your trading standards service in 2018/19?
57
11. How many age restricted test purchases (e.g. alcohol and tobacco, vapes, fireworks, knives etc) were carried out by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
24
12. How many age restricted test purchases (e.g. alcohol and tobacco, vapes, fireworks, knives etc) were carried out by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
32
13. How many shop closures (either temporary or permanent) were ordered by your trading standards service in 2018/19?
Devon County Council does not hold this information.
14. How many shop closures (either temporary or permanent) were ordered by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
2 closure orders were obtained by other agencies, using our evidence.
15. How many shop closures (either temporary or permanent) were ordered by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
22 closure orders were obtained by other agencies, using our evidence.
16. How many premises in your council area had their licences revoked or removed following concerns raised by your trading standards service in 2018/19?
1
17. How many premises in your council area had their licences revoked or removed following concerns raised by your trading standards service in 2022/23?
0
18. How many premises in your council area had their licences revoked or removed following concerns raised by your trading standards service in 2025/26?
1