CITB Cracks Down on Rogue Traders with HSE

FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION by Stockport Trading Standards and the HSE, Asbestos Boss Ltd’s Daniel Cockcroft was brought to justice with the help of the CITB Quality & Standards team.

Stockport Trading Standards and the HSE were first alerted to the rogue traders in September 2021.

Asbestos Boss Ltd had removed the asbestos insulating board from a domestic garage, with little to no control measures in place.

The investigation later revealed several similar cases, with one case deemed such poor quality that the site owners received quotes up to £64,000 to put it right.

CITB Document Checks

As part of the investigation, Stockport Trading Standards contacted CITB in December 2021 to run checks against documentation Daniel Cockcroft produced, claiming to hold a CITB Site Safety Plus qualification.

Ian Sidney, CITB’s Fraud Manager, investigated and confirmed that Daniel Cockcroft did not hold any form of CSCS card or Site Safety Plus qualification. Asbestos Boss Ltd were not only producing counterfeit documents but also using an unauthorised CITB logo on their website to reel customers into thinking they had achieved accreditation.

In Manchester Magistrates Court, Judge Begley remarked that the nature and gravity of Daniel Cockcroft’s offending was plain to see and that he was central to the offences. He said Daniel Cockcroft’s actions were “rogue trading at its worst.” The judge said the serious health implications of asbestos exposure caused by Daniel Cockcroft were an aggravating feature in the case.

CITB provided a witness statement, producing evidence of the findings and details of the trademarks held by CITB. Following this, Stockport Trading Standards brought a charge of fraud against the company and its directors for falsifying documents, as well as unauthorised use of trade and accreditation logos, designed to give an impression of competence.

Daniel Cockcroft was sentenced to six months in prison for the HSE charges and a further four months for the Trading Standards offence relating to fraud and deception.

Chris Simpson, CITB Head of Quality and Standards, said: “Falsifying health and safety qualifications means that the holder has not demonstrated the professional competence and awareness of health and safety legislation that is required for them to work safely in the construction industry. We are committed to identifying and stamping out any kind of cheating or deception to ensure that members of the public are kept safe, with an industry that they can rely on.

“CITB welcomes the sentencing which sends a clear message to individuals and companies flouting health and safety regulations that we will not in any way tolerate this, and that we will work with local authorities, Trading Standards and the HSE to counter rogue traders.”

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