Lancashire's Trading Standards boss Jim Potts retires

Jim Potts has made Lancashire a 'no-go zone' for rogues

The man known as "the scourge of the scams" is retiring today after 41 years in Trading Standards.

Jim Potts has been threatened with a gun, led successful campaigns to get the law changed and stopped thousands of people and businesses from getting ripped off during his career.

The 60 year old led the UK's first counterfeit goods prosecution, thwarted all sorts of scams and been the bane of the life of rogue traders.

He's even tackled a fake Viagra racket!

'No-go zone'

Potts, from Chorley, is credited for taking the Trading Standards from obscurity to one of the UK's highest performing services since he joined Lancashire County Council as Chief Trading Standards Officer in 1986.

His Trading Standards team now deal with over 40,000 new consumer problems each year as well representing 30,000 Lancashire businesses.

And BBC One's Rogue Traders show has never needed to come to the county thanks to the formidable Potts and his team. "Lancashire's a no-go zone for rogue traders," he says proudly.

POTTS ON HOW HE WAS DUPED

Potts, who was the first trading standards officer to appear on BBC One's Watchdog show, says he has loved his time working for the council: "I've been incredibly lucky to have led on so many interesting investigations."

It's quite an understatement for the man who started his career off in the Midlands in the 70s and was in the firing line - literally - for "some rather unsavoury" criminals who he admits "were nasty pieces of work".

Potts recalls: "It was very much like Life on Mars - there were some rough characters!"

'Intimidating'

One rogue - an irate car dealer - even pulled a gun out on him when he was interviewing him. "It was getting very intimidating and I actually said, 'Have you got a licence for that?'

"He said, 'I'm not going to be nicked for that am I, as well?' and believe me he was by the police as it was an unlicensed gun he was carrying!"

Potts is not infallible, though, and confesses he has been duped himself.

His fence had blown down in a gale. "This very plausible guy said 'I'm doing all the fences for your neighbours; I'll get you some fences Mr Potts.' I said fine and gave him £120 and guess what? I never saw him or the panels ever again!"

It was the one and only time, though. "You learn from your own mistakes."

He certainly has. Since then he banned cold-callers especially so-called 'jobbing builders'. Potts explains: "We've got loads of good [builders] here in Lancashire. The ones knocking on doors are here today, gone tomorrow merchants."

'Dared'

A group of damp proofers are currently languishing in jail after the Trading Standards boss caught up with their scam.

Jim Potts is looking forward to walking, fishing and gardening

"They dared to come into Lancashire and rip our residents off. They'd got away with it down south but not here.

"We sorted them out within weeks."

After over four decades bringing conmen to justice, he is now looking forward to the simple pleasures in life.

"I am looking forward to having more time to indulge in my passions for fishing, gardening and walking." He's starting with Hadrian's Wall at the end of August.

Jo Turton, Executive Director in LCC's Environment Directorate, says Jim "leaves a huge legacy" in Lancashire. "His campaigning has directly resulted in better deals for consumers, both locally and further afield."

'Scam sheriff'

County Councillor Albert Atkinson, deputy leader of the county council and cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards, also praised his contribution to making Lancashire a safer place.

"As a result of Jim's work, thousands of people in the county have been protected against a wide range of scams and fraud."

Rogues won't be able to breathe a sigh of relief though from the 'scam sheriff'. "I will still be on the Furniture Ombudsman Council and will remain a member of the Trading Standards Institute so if there is any roguery in Lancashire I will demand my ex-colleagues sort it out!" he warns.