Cheshire police and Trading Standards join forces to protect vulnerable residents with Operation Rogue Trader

Dec 14 2009 Chester Chronicle

OFFICERS from Cheshire Constabulary have joined forces with Trading Standards in Operation Rogue Trader.

This operation targeted those offenders who often commit crime that involves the elderly and the vulnerable within our community and took place on Wednesday, December 9.

The operation focuses around those who cold call at people’s homes and over-charge for work they have allegedly undertaken, or commit distraction type burglaries.

Over fifty officers from Cheshire Constabulary, working alongside officials from Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Warrington, Halton, Trading Standards and Court warrants’ officers took part in this intelligence targeted day of action, and as a result, 46 individuals were stop-checked, seven offences were identified including theft and the handling of stolen goods (where enquiries will now be continued by Cheshire Police and other agencies).

Thirty-two companies were stop checked and their trading details verified.

Dedicated officers from neighbourhood policing teams alongside Trading Standards throughout the force were on high visibility patrol, talking to communities on how to prevent them falling victim to rogue traders.

Roads policing officers utilised Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to conduct instantaneous checks on suspicious vehicles or those suspected of being used by travelling criminals to commit doorstep crime.

Detective Constable Paul Unwin said: “This operation was aimed at tackling and bringing to justice those committing offences of this nature and also to offer prevention advice in our communities in a bid to prevent people falling victim.

“Today we have gathered valuable intelligence relating to those who trade illegally and target certain members of our community.

“We want to send out a strong message to all would-be rogue traders who may think that cold calling is an easy way to make a profit.

“Deceiving people on their doorstep, particularly the vulnerable and elderly, by delivering poor quality over priced services is not tolerated in Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.”

Residents are advised to be vigilant in the following circumstances:

Traders knocking and offering guttering/roofing/paving services (called “cold calling”).

Gardening or tree cutting services.

Callers purporting to work on behalf of a charity.

Callers purporting to work for a utility company or the local council.

Taking deposits and not returning.

Charging prices which would not be “reasonable”.

Not giving cancellation notices out to consumers after cold calls.

Taking consumers to banks/building societies.

“Hard sell” of products, causing fear to consumers.

Shoddy or poor work, causing consumers to pay out again to have the task rectified.

Deposits taken and work not done.

Work only partly completed, have to pay again to finish the job.

No guarantees or warranties.

Resident unable to trace the trader after the event.

Consumers can feel embarrassed or foolish which can affect their self esteem.

Remember - you're in your own home - you're not obliged to buy anything from anyone at anytime.

Use a spy-hole or chain to identify who's calling. Insist on seeing identification and check it, including checking on the legitimacy of the business details (including address).

Don't feel rushed into agreeing to buy.Š Take time to make a decision.

If you have any suspicions or concerns, ask the trader to leave, close the door and call the police or trading standards.ŠDon't allow any callers or workmen to take you to the bank, building society or post office.

If you are contacted by such traders, they may be involved in doorstep crime.Ring trading standards or the police as soon as possible to pass on the following information:

Address or area where trader is working

Description of trader

Vehicle and registration

Type of work

Is the trader still present.