Doorstep Crime

What is Doorstep Crime?

This is crime arising from doorstep callers, who may be high pressure sales people, bogus officials, distraction burglars, bogus workmen and rogue traders who, for example, tell you work needs doing and then charge extortionately high prices.
Distraction burglary is where one caller keeps you talking or diverts your attention elsewhere while an accomplice sneaks in and steals from you. Both distraction burglary and rogue trading is committed by the same criminal element.

What is a No Cold Calling Zone?
This is an area identified as being one where the residents are deemed to be at risk of Doorstep criminal activity. It can have a high proportion of older and vulnerable residents or contains residents who have been targeted by Doorstep criminals in the past. These are usually identified by the local police teams, parish councils or residents groups such as Neighbourhood watch.

How can they be set up?
Trading Standards will oversee and fund the setting up of the No Cold Calling Zones. We will work alongside the police and parish council to identify suitable areas. We will assist in the canvassing of the residents as a majority decision from them is needed before a zone can be set up and at the same time can answer any questions they have regarding the zone. We will supply and fit signs to lamp posts signifying the area is a NCCZ and issue every resident in the zone with an information pack and door sticker saying they do not buy from cold callers, we will also supply and fit door chains free of charge where needed. It is good if one of the residents is prepared to act as a co-ordinator and become a point of contact between the residents and Trading Standards / Police

What do they do?
They generate a feeling of social cohesion and give residents the confidence and opportunity to collectively say NO to cold callers.
They create an interest in the comings and goings of strangers and workmen in the area and generate an acceptable nosy attitude amongst the residents. NCCZ are not designed to stop all callers, regular ones such as Gas and Electric readers, milkmen and your own catalogue or Avon reps should not be deterred.
Rogue trading and Distraction burglaries are rare in Lincolnshire but when they do occur they can be devastating. Most people who call at your home will be genuine, however some are not.
If In Doubt - Keep Them Out !!!
Graham Penn,
Doorstep Crime Co-ordinator,
Lincolnshire Trading Standards