Walsall Trading Standards Savvy Shopper

Walsall Trading Standards Savvy Shopper Advice and information for safe shopping brought to you by Walsall Council Regulatory Services (Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Licensing)

12/06/2026

Walsall trading standards & St Mathews police seize illegal squishy toys from Walsall shops

12/06/2026

Safety warning ⚠️ Some popular squishy toys may not meet UK standards⚠️

Food shaped squishy sensory toys – often designed to look like items such as
donuts or dumplings – are trending online, driven by viral videos and collectible designs.

Trading Standards activity in the UK has identified some products that may not meet basic safety requirements.

Concerns reported include:
⚠️Strong chemical smells
⚠️Missing safety labelling and supplier details
⚠️Skin irritation or nausea
⚠️Choking risk if damaged
⚠️Burns if heated

Some imitation versions have also been found not to meet UK toy safety standards.

Products that are very cheap, have a strong chemical smell, or lack clear labelling may present a higher risk.

For consumers
UKCA/CE marking and clear supplier details can help identify safer products.

For businesses
Products should meet UK safety requirements before being sold and be sourced from reputable suppliers.

Report concerns via Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133

Trading Standards officers carried out inspections of retailers this week assisted by Team 3 .Counterfeit Red Bull found...
11/06/2026

Trading Standards officers carried out inspections of retailers this week assisted by Team 3 .
Counterfeit Red Bull found, along with food past its 'Use By' date - some expired 3 months ago!
'Use By' -illegal to sell past the date
'Best Before' can be sold if still good quality.
Premises cannot be named at this point for legal reasons

02/06/2026

CTSI welcomes the Home Office's latest announcement of a new £30m High Street organised crime unit, as well as new funding for Trading Standards to fight against organised crime on UK high streets.

This signals the start of a targeted multi-agency response in tackling the vast and complex criminal networks on our high streets. Alongside partners, CTSI's campaigning on serious and organised crime on UK high streets has put the issue, and profession, firmly on the national agenda. Developed with ACG, the "Hidden in Plain Sight" report highlighted the challenges faced by enforcement agencies, and suggested a ten-point plan to reclaim our high streets.

To build on current momentum, we are bringing together experts from across partner agencies like the NCA and Home Office to explore the scale of the threat, and consider the response needed. At Conference, we will explore criminal activity, from the sale of illegal vapes, to***co, and counterfeit goods, to illegal money lending and wider consumer harm.

Now is the time to register for Conference: https://ow.ly/flEZ50Z2leZ

After successful operations in recent weeks, today Walsall Trading Standards along with Team 2 of seized almost 4500 il...
27/05/2026

After successful operations in recent weeks, today Walsall Trading Standards along with Team 2 of seized almost 4500 illegal ci******es and over 2kg of hand rolling to***co from a town centre shop. Police also seized a large amount of cash under proceeds of crime legislation. Work is now ongoing to close the shop, and at this point we cannot name the shop for legal reasons.

Walsall Trading standards officers with police from Pleck undertook Operation . An underage volunteer attempted to buy ...
22/05/2026

Walsall Trading standards officers with police from Pleck undertook Operation . An underage volunteer attempted to buy knives. 5 of 7 shops refused to sell, big 👏to them. Not so good for the one that sold a set of knives or the one that sold a kitchen knife no questions asked 😡Investigations underway so we can't name the stores yet for legal reasons.

This is what happens to the illegal cigs, vapes, dangerous toys & counterfeits that we seize.Everything is taken away to...
15/05/2026

This is what happens to the illegal cigs, vapes, dangerous toys & counterfeits that we seize.
Everything is taken away to be destroyed. We'd prefer that there were no illegal goods for us to find, but when we do there is now plenty of room in our storage for future seizures!

08/05/2026

Trader has no paperwork and you’re not sure?
Be cautious if a trader:
- can’t give a clear address or landline
- won’t leave written details
- avoids giving anything in writing about the work or price

If you feel unsure:
- do not agree to the work
- stop the conversation
- talk to someone you trust
- get advice before you decide

Stop the conversation. Stop the scam.

Advice → https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scams

Lean more: A quick guide to doorstep scams - https://centsa.org.uk/campaigns/customer-resources-doorstep-crime/

To report: https://centsa.org.uk/file-a-report/

Address

Civic Centre, Darwall Street
Walsall
WS11TP

Opening Hours

Monday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Tuesday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Wednesday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Thursday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Friday 8:45am - 4:45pm

Telephone

+441922650000

Website

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