Police and trading standards officers in Bath and North East Somerset have been raising awareness of rogue traders as part of a national week of action.
Rogue traders are criminals who charge homeowners extortionate rates for home or garden improvements which are overpriced, substandard or not required at all.
These criminals often target elderly people who often suffer ill health after such a stressful experience.
Neighbourhood officers teamed up with Bath and North East Somerset Council’s trading standards officers and Neighbourhood Watch members to let householders know what to look out for.
It was part of Rogue Trader Week, a national event where the police and our partners come together to raise awareness of this crime which affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
Across the area, the police been working with people in the community who can help to make sure vulnerable people don’t fall victim to conmen.
Officers have talked to bank, building society and Post Office cashiers so they know what to do if a customer suddenly and unusually wants to withdraw a large amount of money so that, if necessary, they can intervene before criminals are paid for their “work”.
They’ve also spoken to carers so they know what to do if they come across people doing building work during home visits.
The week of action ran from Monday 28th September to Friday 2nd October and the activity included:
- Vehicle checks with Trading Standards officers on the A4 London Road in Bath.
- More than 20 drivers were stopped and questioned about their awareness of new Trading Standards legislation, and useful information was passed on to them.
- At the same time officers completed Police National Computer checks to see if any had previous offences of dishonesty and rogue trading.
- Across BANES officers worked with Trading Standards teams on mobile patrols looking for rogue traders, particularly focussing on areas including Peasedown St John where a previous offence had occurred.
- In Bath city centre police made leaflet drops and gave advice at coffee mornings, libraries and church groups targeting elderly audiences.
- In Keynsham they conducted an ANPR operation on the A4 at Corston, targeting rogue trader vehicles.
- Officers also attended coffee mornings at The Hawthorns nursing home inviting local residents who live in prefabs on Hawthorns Lane, highlighting the issues of rogue traders and what to look out for.
- They also set up a mobile police station for one afternoon in Waitrose carpark as a mobile roadshow regarding rogue traders.
- In Larkhall, Bath, officers visited housing areas that are designated no cold calling zones, calling at properties and giving advice and delivering leaflets.
In South Gloucestershire, police were called to Oakdale Road in Downend over concerns that men were going door to door offering to clean drives and were handing out notices for a tree care company.
The men were given words of advice about cold calling and decided to leave the area.
Neighbourhood Inspector Clive Summerill said: “Throughout the year we work with Trading Standards and other agencies to tackle doorstep crime.
“We’re taking the opportunity offered by National Rogue Trader week to remind people that we can all play a part in protecting ourselves and our more vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours from doorstep criminals.”
What to do if someone calls, uninvited, at your home:
- If you’re at all unsure, don’t open the door;
- Put the door chain on before opening up;
- Ask to see identification;
- If you’re at all suspicious, call 101 immediately. If you feel threatened call 999.
For crime prevention advice visit the Doorstep Crime section on the Avon and Somerset Police website: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/advice/property-and-money/burglary/doorstep-crime/.
