Turning up the heat on cold call rouges (From Warrington Guardian)

Turning up the heat on cold call rouges

BOGUS traders operating in South Cheshire were targeted in a joint operation between police, trading standards and customs officers.

The operation was designed to put a halt to cold calling in the area by bogus tradesmen.

Commenting on the success of the operation trading standards liaison officer Detective Constable Paul Unwin said: "Operation Bogus Trader is a great example of how a joint approach to the way in which we deal with door step crime can deliver results.

0"We want to send out a strong message to all would-be bogus traders who may think that cold-calling is an easy way to make a profit.

"Deceiving people on their own doorsteps and delivering poor quality over-priced services is not an option."

Operation Bogus Trader was aimed at making people feel secure in their own homes by dealing with those callous tradesmen who con people out of money on their own doorstep for poor sub-standard work.

Andrew Rees, from Cheshire County Council's trading standards unit, said: "This multi-agency operation is an ideal opportunity to crack down on the doorstep criminals who cause misery to householders across the county.

"Trading standards advice is to think hard before you buy any goods or services on your doorstep- help us to crack down on doorstep crime."

0By combining their expertise, officers were able to question those traders who may be committing offences but to send out a message to any unscrupulous traders thinking of using cold calling to secure work in the future.

Over two days 114 trader vehicles were checked, including 25 from the Crewe and Nantwich, Sandbach and Middlewich areas.