The Trading Standards Division is responsible for ensuring that all weighing and measuring equipment used for trade is accurate. Transactions involving weight, measure or number should be lawful.
Officers carry out routine inspections on all premises using such equipment.
These can range from shop scales or pub spirit measures to petrol pumps and road and rail weighbridges. Most new or repaired equipment is tested and passed by officers before being used for trade. Where serious problems are found the Division can take legal action against businesses. Such investigations may lead to prosecution. Indeed Trading Standards have recently prosecuted companies for short weight bread and a deficient coal delivery.