Would You Like Your Street To Become A 'No Cold Calling' Zone?

Following Operation Rogue Trader, police are inviting local residents who would like to see their street made a No Cold Calling Zone to contact them.

The zones are streets where cold callers are not allowed to make house-to-house visits unless they have made a prior appointment.

The zones have been particularly helpful for elderly and vulnerable people, who are often targeted by unsolicited callers who offer to do building or garden work at inflated prices or fail to complete it.

Earlier this year, police warned Bedminster residents to be on their guard after a local man was duped into handing over £2,500 for ‘work’ on his home. The Lynton Road resident was approached by three men who said they had noticed his guttering was in need of repair.

They climbed onto the man’s roof and removed all of the guttering before demanding over £2,500 to replace it. They took the victim to a bank to withdraw the cash. Once they had the cash, the three men left, promising to return and complete the work.

As part of Operation Rogue Trader last week, the local neighbourhood policing team visited every home in Ravenhill Road, Bedminster.

While elderly and vulnerable residents were given information about how to avoid becoming a victim of doorstep criminals or distraction burglars, all residents were asked whether they would like a ‘No Cold Calling’ zone to be set up for the street.

The response from residents was overwhelmingly in favour and the scheme will be put in place.

If you would like to see your street become a No Cold Calling Zone, contact your Neighbourhood Policing Team on 0845 456 7000.