Volunteers wanted
Trading Standards regularly need young volunteers to assist with their programme of age restricted products test purchasing. Do you know any suitable volunteers who could assist? If so you may want to know the answers to the following questions.
What products are we talking about?
Trading Standards enforce the law in relation to age restricted products. The following are some of the areas covered:
Product age restriction
- Alcohol - 18 years of age
- Fireworks - 18 years of age
- Cigarette lighter refills - 18 years of age
- Tobacco products - 18 years of age
Who can volunteer?
Volunteers should be no less than 18 months younger than the age restriction for any particular product and should not look older than the age restriction in question. For example we are looking for volunteers no older than 16 years and 6 months for alcohol and cigarettes (around 15-16 years of age).
As a parent or guardian what will I have to do?
Parents/guardians of any volunteers will be asked to sign a parental consent form. You can stipulate when and where the volunteer can assist and any special dietary requirements. You will also be asked to provide a copy of their birth certificate for us to copy.
If we get any sales we would require you give a witness statement identifying your child from a photograph taken by us and producing the copy of the birth certificate. This should prevent you being called to give evidence at court but if the defendant objects you may be required to attend court (this very rarely happens).
What will happen to the volunteers?
Volunteers will be paid for their time and offered refreshments of their choice (subject to any conditions you impose).
Anyone who volunteers will be photographed on the day of any operation. They will be shown how to operate covert surveillance equipment. They can either work alone or with a friend and will be accompanied by officers from trading standards at all times except when in the shop. When in the shop there will be an officer outside with a phone line open to our volunteers.
Will the volunteer have to attend court?
Our evidence of the sale is the video from the covert camera, the photographic evidence of how they looked on the day and your evidence as to their age. We will strongly resist any attempt by the defence to bring the volunteer to court. Previous defendants who have attempted to bring our young volunteers to court have failed.
What should I do if I know someone who wants to volunteer?
You can contact us with details on env.trading.standards@salford.gov.uk or by telephone on 0161 925 1254.
This page was last updated on 05 March 2008
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