Doorstep callers;
Operation Rogue Trader
Cheshire Police joined a national campaign against doorstep criminals, who have been responsible for a rise in fraud and deception crimes recently. On Friday 15th June 2007, the Police asked the public to notify them of any persons knocking on doors on that day, offering services of any kind.
Cheshire Police have issued the following statement after the event to explain what was going on ...
Forcewide operation targets rogue traders
Police and trading standards officers joined forces on Friday 15 June to target people working illegally providing building, path surfacing, landscaping and other services to unsuspecting members of the public.
The intelligence-led operation across all Cheshire Police divisions was part of a nationwide initiative, Operation Rogue Trader, to tackle illegal activity that is associated with unlicensed or unqualified traders.
This can include using illegal, untrained or unqualified labour to provide little or shoddy work at inflated prices by preying on vulnerable victims. Experience shows that these rogue traders are also likely to steal from their victims and be responsible for bogus caller type offences. They are also likely to be committing trading offences by producing unsafe, substandard work with little regard for health and safety.
Tools, equipment and heavy machinery used by these criminals tends to be badly maintained and often found to be dangerous or stolen. Motor vehicles used by them are often untaxed, uninsured and without a valid MOT.
In many instances they are found to be involved in deception, fraud and tax evasion with many claiming benefits and not declaring earnings.
Staff from HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work & Pensions, Immigration, and the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency also joined in many of the operations today to target people flouting their regulations.
Police said “Rogue traders give honest, professional workers a bad name and are a menace to society. They prey on the vulnerable, especially older people, and can systematically rob them of their hard-earned life savings. We, along with our partners in trading standards and the other agencies, are committed to bringing these callous thieves to justice and making them realise that they cannot operate outside the law with impunity”.
A spokesperson for Trading Standards said “We urge people not to deal with traders they don't know at the doorstep. If you need work doing, plan it carefully, get three quotes and check out references. Buying on impulse from cold callers will lead to you being targeted by other cold callers who get more and more ruthless in their approach."
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