Police cadets team up with Trading Standards to produce 'No Cold Calling' packs for residents

Stockport’s Trading Standards team and Greater Manchester Police have been working together to create 2,500 ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ resident’s packs.

Working from Cheadle Heath Police Station and with a team of Police cadets, the packs were prepared in readiness for the launch of six new zones in various locations around the borough.

Stockport has a number of successful zones set up to help combat doorstep crime incidents and empower homeowners to confidently deal with cold callers.

The Zone’s coverage range in size from a few houses to several hundred. Funding from the Safer Stockport Partnership has secured the creation of the six new Zones.

Lamppost signage in the Zones and windows for all residents ask cold callers not to canvass for trade at people’s homes. Analysis and evaluation has shown a significant reduction in victims of doorstep crime and rogue traders within those localities with residents reporting they feel more confident saying ‘No’.

Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for each other, use crime prevention measures at the door and report details about cold callers working in the zone to Citizens Advice Consumer Service and Greater Manchester Police.

Police cadets have been delivering the packs to every household in the new Zones whilst raising awareness of doorstep crime and crime prevention measures.

The packs contain information advising what a Zone is, that one is being set up in the area as well as a leaflet giving advice on security and how to avoid falling victim to rogue traders and, a two-way window sticker telling cold callers to respect the homeowners wishes and not to knock on their doors.

Householders are encouraged to report any unsolicited visits and the pack contains contact numbers of who to phone for support and help.

Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing at Stockport Council, said: “I am delighted to see the expansion of this successful project to more areas across Stockport.

"The Council’s Trading Standards team and Greater Manchester Police are both united and determined in their efforts to stop Stockport residents becoming the victims of doorstep crime in their own homes.”