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The first 'No Cold Calling Zone'has been launched in North
Somerset by the Weston Mead Residents
Association.
A sign at the entrance to Swiss Road in Weston-super-Mare was
unveiled on Tuesday 26th September 2006 at 11am. The sign tells
traders that the road is a 'No Cold Calling Zone' and that
uninvited salespeople are not welcome.
Any trader calling uninvited at homes within the zone will commit
a trespass. The zone co-ordinator can write to traders who trespass
warning them not to do it again. North Somerset Council's Trading
Standards Service can take enforcement action against persistent
offenders.
The Trading Standards Service has provided legal advice and
guidance to the residents association and empowered this vibrant
community organisation to act to protect its residents from not
only the nuisance callers but also the more sinister traders who
are involved in doorstep crime.
Weston Mead Residents Association successfully made a grant
application to BT which funded the full cost of the signs. 'No Cold
Calling Zones' are promoted nationally by the trading standards
officers professional body, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI)
who administer the sponsorship.
North Somerset Council's executive member for community, Cllr
Deborah Yamanaka said: "This is an excellent achievement by the
Weston Mead Residents Association. I am pleased that we have been
able to assist this community organisation and would urge other
interested parties to contact our Trading Standards team."
For further information contact Trading Standards on 01275 888 634
or look at the advice
booklet
Notes:
A cold calling zone is an area within which all the households have
agreed that they don't want doorstep sellers to call at their homes
without being invited. Signs can be displayed at the entrance to
the street advising doorstep sellers they are not welcome. To form
a no cold calling zone it is essential that all residents in the
area agree to the zone being set up.
What are the benefits ?
Experience in other areas has shown that this sort of scheme can
virtually eradicate calls to your home. This can reduce the
nuisance caused but more importantly protects you from doorstep
crime as some uninvited visits to your property are used to gather
information for criminal purposes.
A national Trading Standards Institute survey involved feedback
from 9,000 randomly selected households. The results showed that
nationally,96% of people simply did not want doorstep cold-callers
and nobody actually welcomed them.
What is Doorstep Crime ?
This is 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.
Nick Yates |