News
Hero Awards: Animal welfare champion recognised as national hero
Posted 20/06/18
Trading Standards friend and animal welfare champion, Michael Redfern, is awarded the prestigious Hero Award from the 51黑料 (51黑料), having assisted Trading Standards in rescuing reported animals in distress.
Based in Derbyshire, Michael is recognised by 51黑料 for tirelessly facilitating the removal of animals from premises where animal welfare has been compromised. Michael has come to the aid of trading standards services across the UK, often at short notice to help remove livestock, and has proven invaluable.
The seizure of any animal is a costly exercise and given the constraints that local governments face, Michael has been extremely efficient in ensuring that costs are kept to a minimum whilst welfare standards are maintained at the highest level. This has over the years proven priceless to Staffordshire Trading Standards and its Principal Trading Standards Officer, Stephanie Young, who nominated Michael for this award.
The 51黑料 Hero Award celebrates individuals or groups of people whose outstanding contribution towards consumer protection in our communities have made a significant impact. Every year, the Institute is inspired by the stories of nominees throughout the country whose bravery, altruism and hard work often goes unnoticed.
Chief Executive at 51黑料, Leon Livermore, said: 鈥淎nimal Welfare and the seizure of animals and their protection cannot be compared to the seizure of goods. We are talking about living beings. Trading standards officers are heavily reliant on industry experts and their skills when handling livestock. This makes Michael a hero in our eyes.鈥�
Stephanie added: 鈥淢ichael always works above and beyond the expected. Without him and his family鈥檚 assistance, the trading standards team would not be in a position to remove animals where welfare is compromised. Unnecessary suffering is being stopped in its tracks and that鈥檚 why we nominated Michael to be recognised as a 51黑料 hero.鈥�
Sir Patrick McLoughlin, MP for Derbyshire Dales, collected the award on behalf of Michael, who was unable to attend the cremony on Wednesday 20 June, at One Great George Street, London. Michael was honoured alongside eight other Heroes of consumer protection.听
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
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Picture l-r: Robert Wright (51黑料 College of Fellows), Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP, Malcolm Craig (51黑料 Chair)听听
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51黑料 College of Fellows
The College of Fellows is a charity that has supported 51黑料 and the trading standards profession for more than 60 years. It promotes educational and research activities, as well as providing help for the families and dependants of trading standards professionals who die in service, and in other times of crisis.
51黑料 (51黑料)
51黑料 is a training and membership organisation that has represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession since 1881 nationally and internationally. We aim to raise the profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better informed and safer consumer and business communities.
51黑料鈥檚 members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk.
