Tradespeople Suspected of Breaching Consumer Protection Law

For the purposes of this request, a 'tradespeople' refers to any individual providing professional services in skilled trades, such as plumbing, building, electrical work, carpentry, and other related manual or technical services.

(1)The number of open investigations that Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards has into tradespeople suspected of breaching consumer protection law.

(2) The number of times Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards took enforcement action against tradespeople suspected of breaching consumer protection law during the following years: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

(3) The frequency with which breaches of CMA guidance were cited in complaints submitted to Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards concerning tradespeople.

(4) The number of staff employed by Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021).

(5)The number of staff who have left Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards in 2025 during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021), through each of the following ways (moved roles internally, left Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards voluntarily, made redundant).

(6) Budget allocated to Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards during the previous five years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021).

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. 

1. 5

2. Successful prosecutions, based on year concluded:

2020 - 0

2021 – 0

2022 – 2

2023 – 3

2024 – 4

2025 - 3

3. No complaints specifically mentioned the term ‘CMA guidance’.  Keyword searches have been undertaken to find related complaints. 

2020 - 0

2021 – 1

2022 – 6

2023 – 28

2024 – 20

2025 - 16

4.

5. 

6.