Tony Allen - Trading Standards - spokesman
Tony Allen has been head of Trading Standards at Oldham since April ’04 and worked for T.S. since 1993 He has helped achieve some changes in legislation regarding Trading Standards Officers powers of Enforcement.
Daniel Moore, a Trading standards officer working under him, in a recent court case (trading standards -v- Miller,Manchester crown court Nov '09) admitted in evidence that he had never met anyone better at manipulating the media than Tony Allen.
Allen has been heavily involved in the NIM (National Intelligence Model). Tony Allen has worked for Trading Standards since 1993.
“Granny ejector seats” His first recorded press interview in June 1998 was in relation to the investigation of a direct sales company that sold chairs to disabled pensioners. Designed to aid them in standing, the chairs apparently acted like “ejector seats”. Mr Allen “test piloted” one of the chairs, alleging he was flung across the room, before declaring it unsafe. Mr Allen (11 stone) claimed that “research” had shown that a person would have to weigh 17 stone to control the chair
“Coffins on Wheels” – report into used car industry Allen wrote a report, “Coffins on Wheels” highlighting the dangers of “cut and shut” cars being sold by unscrupulous car traders. The report led to the introduction of the ‘Q’ registration for insurance write offs.
The report calls for “Joint enforcement procedures between Police, Trading Standards and the Vehicle Inspectorate”.
In the report, Tony also stated that “Research has shown about 35% of vehicles on display at used-car garages would fail basic MOT safety standards”
ENERGY FRAUD INVESTIGATION
(**)In 2002, Tony Allen led a major investigation into complaints about Virgin HomeEnergy agents who used unscrupulous methods to sign customers up with electricity contracts. He was quoted as saying “ We have confirmed more than 700 forged contracts...have identified 1,200 consumers who were sold energy through forged contracts.....we believe the figure could be as high as 4,000”
OMBUDSMAN – COUNCIL MEMBER In 2006, Tony was asked to serve on the council of OFGEM, the power supplier’s Ombudsman
Tony Allen has also joined the council of OFTEL, (the communications watchdog), SOS (Surveyors ombudsman service) and TOSL (The Ombudsman service Ltd)