|
Trading Standards& Licensing |
 |
|
| Home | About Us | Consumer | Business | Licensing | News | Contact Us | |
||
Doorstep Crime
Cleveland Police Crime Reduction Team
Introduction
The Doorstoppers And No Cold Calling Zones Scheme looks to reduce crime, and the fear of crime arising from doorstep callers, bogus workmen, high pressure salespeople, bogus officials and distraction burglary.
It is now well established that distraction burglaries and rogue trading are interlinked - all too often, the seemingly innocent doorstep seller is actually checking things out for a re-visit to carry out a burglary or distraction burglary.
Whilst this type of criminal behaviour can impact on anybody in any place, research shows that older people are particularly vulnerable, especially those living alone.
Doorstoppers Information Leaflet
|Top| Cleveland Police Crime Reduction Team
Cleveland Police Crime Reduction Officers can provide advice on improving your home security and personal safety if you or a member of your family would benefit from this service contact:
Stockton Crime Reduction on 01642 302271 E-mail: dave.sanders@cleveland.pnn.police.uk
|Top| Trading Standards & Licensing
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a scan or rogue trader contact us on:
Telephone: 01642 526560 E-Mail: trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk
or select this link for further advice about Scams.
|Top| No Cold Calling Zones
The aim of these zones is to reduce the number of bogus callers, distraction burglaries and rogue traders operating in your area.
We have a procedure for assessing applications for new zones. This was based on legal advice from the Office of Fair Trading that the additional protection afforded to consumers by the introduction of a zone must be proportionate to any additional burdens this may impose on businesses. This approach has been agreed by Cleveland Police and Neighbourhood Watch.
The procedure incorporates a scoring system with factors such as support from residents, presence of vulnerable residents and particular problems or concerns about doorstep crime affecting a score. The scoring system is aimed at ensuring the zones are introduced in areas that need them the most.
Application Form For A No Cold Calling Zone
|Top| Junk Mail And Telesales
Many doorstep salespeople operate on the basis of making cold telephone calls. In many cases, householders can feel pressurised into accepting a call. The person making the cold telephone call is focused imply on obtaining the householder's agreement for a salesperson to visit and will usually be on commission for the number of "leads". This means that in some cases, salespeople will not make clear the real purpose of the call and what they are seeking to sell.
Direct mail is also unwelcome by many people.
The organisations which make these calls or; supply these mailings often obtain householder information from commercial data companies which sell contact lists.
Consumers can register with a number of preference services to assist householders to stop some direct marketing companies making such contact.
These include:
The Mailing Preference Scheme - Telephone: 020 7291 3310; e-mail: www.mpsonline.org.uk The Telephone Preference Service - Telephone: 020 7291 3300; e-mail: www.tpsonline.org.uk.
|Top| BT Privacy
If you are a BT customer, you can also register with the Telephone Preference Scheme through the BT privacy Service which, in addition will give caller display at no extra charge. This is a free service - Telephone 0800 916 5544 or visit the privacy section of BT's website.
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council