AN initiative has been launched to protect vulnerable people from bogus callers and distraction burglaries.

Wrexham Council's housing and public protection department, North Wales Police and Dee Valley Water have jointly launched the National Doorstep Cold Calling Protocol in Wrexham.

The protocol has been developed by the National Distraction Burglary Task Force with support from the Home Office and aims to protect people from bogus callers.

Common ploys used by these callers to gain access to premises can include impersonating council officials or employees of utility companies.

The protocol aims to make it more difficult for people to use this tactic.

Council officials and Dee Valley Water employees are aiming to make appointments and avoid calling unannounced.

On any home visit to a vulnerable person, staff will hand over their identification card and encourage them to compare the photograph on the card and to check their identity before entering their house.

Bogus callers are unlikely to hand over an identity card bearing their photograph and fingerprints.

If anyone is suspicious about a caller claiming to be from the council or Dee Valley Water, they should telephone the number on the back of the card to check the caller's identity.

A genuine caller will not mind waiting while their identity is checked. But they should not be allowed into the house and the door should be kept locked or on the security chain while the check is carried out.

The implementation of the Cold Calling Protocol is the latest measure being introduced by the council to tackle doorstep crime.

Thousands of information packs have been distributed to vulnerable people.

A Safe in the Home scheme has also been introduced which entitles some residents to a free security upgrade of their property. Police and Trading Standards also carry out joint exercises to check the identities of door-to-door traders in the Wrexham area.