Southwark Trading Standards Officer Wins National Award

Posted 16/12/24

Yemisi Forrest, Principal Enforcement Officer at Southwark Council Trading Standards, has received the Brian Smith Hero Award at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) annual Hero Awards. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements in consumer protection.

The CTSI Hero Awards were hosted by Jenni Falconer in the Houses of Parliament on the 10 December. Now in its 19th year, the CTSI Hero Awards highlight individuals or groups making significant contributions to consumer protection, fostering fair competition and safeguarding businesses.

The Brian Smith Hero Award honours the late Brian Smith, Senior Trading Standards Officer at Angus Council, for his impactful work against doorstep crime and promotion of call blockers. Yemisi’s dedication embodies these values.

Yemisi has worked in Trading Standards for 37 years, 24 of them at Southwark Council. She leads efforts to protect residents from scams and rogue traders while ensuring victims receive justice. Recently, she helped secure a conviction in a £1 million fraud case involving eleven homeowners, resulting in the scammer being imprisoned for three years. Yemisi also ensures victims receive redress, including financial compensation.

Her work includes securing call-blocking devices and video doorbells for scam victims, such as an elderly woman suffering from dementia who lost £20,000 to telephone scammers over many years. Yemisi’s intervention brought this to an end, helping restore peace of mind.

CTSI Chief Executive, John Herriman, said: “Yemisi’s outstanding dedication and professionalism in supporting vulnerable individuals and tackling scams and rogue traders are truly commendable. Her compassion and investigative skills ensured justice was served while helping prevent future victimisation. We are proud to recognise her as this year’s winner of the Brian Smith Hero Award.”

Paul Gander, Trading Standards Team Leader from Southwark Council, said: “I am so pleased that Yemisi has received national recognition for her many years of dedicated work. When dealing with scam and rogue trader victims, it is the human, caring approach that counts most. We are very fortunate to have Yemisi working for Southwark.”

ENDS

Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) 

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is a national not for profit established in 1881 which supports the UK’s Trading Standards profession, and works to protect consumers and safeguard honest businesses. CTSI's members are engaged in delivering frontline Trading Standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk

Please contact CTSI Press Office: [email protected]for any queries.

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