Business information

Cold callers left out in cold in Potters Bar

Residents in Potters Bar plagued by rogue traders, distraction burglars and door-to-door salespeople will have some respite from unwanted callers thanks to the extension of a Hertfordshire Trading Standards scheme.

To deter would-be criminals and unwelcome visits from people trying to sell goods, two areas - Baker Street and the roads off it to the east and Wayside and Coningsby Drive - will become No Cold Calling Areas (NCCA) from Monday, December 3.

The areas, launched in partnership with Hertfordshire Constabulary, become the 15th and 16th NCCAs in the county.

Clear street signs will be erected stating 'No uninvited salespeople' with a contact number for Trading Standards. Residents will be given a pack containing information about their rights as consumers and useful telephone numbers to call if they are concerned about a cold caller.

County Councillor Richard Smith, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “Residents should know their rights and feel confident enough to say 'no' when they do not want to purchase goods or services.

"We have had considerable success over the past 18 months in getting rogue traders prosecuted through the courts, and will keep up the pressure on people who misuse these tactics.

"There are, of course, legitimate businesses which cold call. But because that practice has been hijacked by distraction burglars and other criminals who prey on vulnerable residents, it has become an unwanted menace and local people have left us in no doubt that they don’t want cold callers at all.”

Community Safety Sergeant Nat Landau, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "This is a wonderful initiative which we fully endorse. It is the result of months of work between police, Hertfordshire Trading Standards and other partner agencies.

"Other similar zones which have been launched across the county have proved to be extremely successful. We hope that residents will feel safer with the launch of this zone."

The first NCCA in the county was set up in another area of Potters Bar in October 2005. Similar schemes have also been set up in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Royston, Codicote, Carpenders Park, Hitchin and Borehamwood. These have already proved to be very successful in deterring doorstep operators in those areas.