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News

Doorstep Sellers face 'No Go' Zones

Aggressive and bogus doorstep traders are facing the cold shoulder from Poole residents with the introduction of 'No Doorstep Selling' areas in the Borough.

Officers from the Council's Environmental & Consumer Protection Services are looking for volunteers to help them introduce 'no go' areas for doorstep sellers offering their goods and services uninvited.

Shaun Robson, Head of E&CP, Borough of Poole, said: "People are fed up with traders cold calling on them offering to carry out repairs to their property or trying to sell them goods they don't want or really need. We are especially concerned with those rogue traders who use cold calling to exploit the most vulnerable members in our community by over charging for simple property repairs that are often not even carried out properly."

In the largest ever study of the effects of cold calling carried out by the Trading Standards Institute in 2003 only 0.1% of the 9000 people questioned welcomed traders calling on them uninvited.

Shaun added: "The vast majority of us do not want to be bothered in our homes but more serious is the proven link between doorstep cold calling and other crimes such as distraction burglary. In the absence of legislation banning uninvited doorstep selling we would like to start introducing areas in Poole where the community is equipped to deal with these traders with confidence and send out a clear message that they are not welcome."

The proposed zones would have street signs advising cold callers that they are entering a No Doorstep Selling area and the residents will be supplied with information packs on how to deal with doorstep sellers, window stickers and details of how to report callers to trading standards officers who will follow up on any visit in the area.

Cllr Don Collier, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Borough of Poole, said: "We want to send a clear message to rogue traders preying on the elderly and vulnerable in particular, that we will find out about them if they come calling in these areas and we will investigate them.

"This will be a community-led initiative which has the full support of E&CPS. It's the first scheme of its kind in the South West but in other parts of the country it has proved very successful in reducing cold calling crime and distraction burglaries. We do need the help of committed residents in getting it off the ground so if you'd like your street to be considered as part of the project please let us know and we'll contact you further."

Anyone wanting to nominate their area to be a "No Doorstep Sellers" zone should contact Environmental and Consumer Protection Services, tel: 01202 261700 or email environment@poole.gov.uk

Shaun Robson, Head of Environmental & Consumer Protection, Borough of Poole tel 01202 261736