Tireless champion of vulnerable consumers Ruth Andrews received this year’s prestigious Trading Standards Hero Award from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), for leading the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team as Head of Investigations and Safeguarding at North Yorkshire County Council.
Ruth and her team tackle professional, organised doorstep crime and cold-calling fraudsters who prey on susceptible individuals. Ruth’s dedication has pursued countless prosecutions through to sentencing, ensuring the most robust and appropriate charges are brought, securing justice for victims. Most recently, in a multi-victim doorstep crime case Ruth’s team secured custodial sentences of 18 years for the perpetrators.
Left to right – Jerry Burnie (British Toy and Hobby Association), Ruth Andrews (Hero Award winner, North Yorkshire County Council), Tim Day (Hertfordshire Trading Standards), and Roland Earl (British Toy and Hobby Association)
She has safeguarded and dedicated significant resources to victim care to break the cycle of financial abuse. Her team has set up partnerships with third sector providers, community and faith groups, and used money confiscated through the Proceeds of Crime Act to reimburse victims and strengthen their support network.
In 2014 and 2015, Ruth produced reports into doorstep crime for National Trading Standards, which provided evidence-based research to shed light on enforcement concerns and continue to provide a foundation for trading standards officers across the country.
The CTSI Hero Awards celebrate those who make outstanding contributions towards consumer protection in our communities. Ruth received her award at the CTSI Hero Awards 2019 ceremony at One Great George Street, London, on Tuesday June 25.
Chief Executive at CTSI, Leon Livermore, said: “Ruth is a prime example of everything that encompasses a hero of our profession. Her determined passion to right wrongs and protect those in her community and beyond from the devastating effects of fraud and scams is inspiring. I’m proud that we can give Ruth the recognition she deserves.”
Senior Trading Standards Officer and CTSI Lead Officer for Doorstep Crime, Tim Day, who nominated Ruth for her award, said: “Ruth was one of the first to recognise the impact of loneliness and social isolation in victimisation, especially repeat victimisation, and she consistently provides an example to the rest of the profession for how to tackle organised crime. There is no-one more fitting of a Hero Award than Ruth Andrews.”
Ruth was presented with her award by her local MP, Rishi Sunak, and Roland Earl, Director General of the British Toy and Hobby Association, who sponsored this year’s Trading Standards Hero category.
