Trading standards officers are the knights in shining armour in a world of rogue traders, doorstep con artists and grubby takeaways.
The absence of chainmail and swords makes them difficult to spot in action but we do see the result of their endeavours: a market stall of counterfeit football shirts raided, a mouse-infested eatery shut down or an infected farm in quarantine.
It might sometimes feel like we’re living in rip-off Britain but without trading standards officers we’d be far worse off – swamped by a sea of fake designer goods, shortchanged on sweeties and Granny Ina royally ripped off having her roof retiled.
Whenever you see headlines about loan sharks, legal highs, doorstep callers and illegal parking fines you can bet your perfectly legal bottom dollar on it being largely down to the efforts of trading standards officers (TSOs).
These heroes work for local councils but act on behalf of consumers and businesses. Liaising closely with the police, HMRC and Citizens Advice they advise on and enforce the laws that govern the way we buy, sell, rent and hire goods and services. Their remit covers consumer safety, counterfeit goods, product labelling, weights and measures, and animal welfare.
As well as advising on consumer law, they investigate complaints and when necessary can play the tough guys by prosecuting those who break the law.
Here in Scotland there are also specialist trading standards officers who work with local authorities to tackle loan sharks, scams and internet fraud.
Although the job is largely office-based it does involve getting out and about to premises such as pubs, factories, markets or petrol stations to carry out routine tests or respond to a complaint.
In shops, weighing machines and food labels are checked.
In licensed premises, beer and spirit measures are monitored.
Faulty electrical goods or unroadworthy vehicles don’t escape the TSO either.
Having to deal with some dodgy geezers and visit some yukky premises means this is no job for the thin skinned. Neither should you be fazed by paperwork and red tape of which there is plenty.
But the rewards are good, with a salary between £24k to £34k, rising to upwards of £40k for senior positions.
A consumer related or law degree gets you a head start here but it’s possible to work your way up from Highers level and take accredited professional qualifications once employed.
So, if you fancy taking up the cudgels for the consumer, visit the Legal vacancies at s1jobs