Luton Borough Council

21/01/2025 - Campaign sees nearly 2,000 potentially dangerous batteries and chargers removed from sale

Residents in the East of England will be safer after more than 1,800 potentially dangerous batteries and chargers were removed from sale thanks to a regional campaign by Trading Standards services from nine local authorities, including Luton Council.

The work was carried out after fire and rescue services in the eastern region reported an increase in the number of fires involving lithium-ion batteries and battery chargers. These batteries are found in a large number of household devices, including laptops, mobile phones, vacuum cleaners and cordless power tools and can pose a serious fire risk.

The campaign saw Trading Standards services from across the East of England buy and test 22 items, primarily from online marketplaces. All failed to provide the correct information as required by law, with 13 also failing on safety grounds, including risk of electric shock, fire and explosion.

Councillor Maria Lovell, Portfolio Holder for Trading Standards, said: “Officers from Luton Council have been part of the incredibly vital work that highlights the risks of buying cheap chargers, which can cause damage and even fatalities when they fail. To ensure that products meet UK safety standards, make sure you only purchase batteries and other electrical items from reputable retailers.”

If you believe you have a sub-standard product, you can report it to Trading Standards by contacting our partners the Citizen's Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

If your battery, charger or device is smoking, turn it off if it’s safe to do so. In the event of a fire, get out, stay out, and call 999.