Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Beware of the bogus caller ...
Wiltshire Council staff who come into contact with elderly or vulnerable people as part of their jobs are to receive training and information packs on how they can help to protect those vulnerable to 'bogus caller' crimes.

The door step safety project, which has been initiated by Wiltshire Council safer communities team in partnership with Wiltshire trading standards, was launched recently with the start of a series of training sessions. A group of parish stewards were the first to receive the specialist training, which included a DVD, presented by the police, with clips from conversations with elderly people who have been victims.

The training, which is being offered to front-line staff from highways officers to carers, aims to raise awareness of doorstep crime and what action staff can take. The informative sessions will also enable staff to give basic advice and help to carry important messages.

The information packs, developed by trading standards in partnership with the safer communities team, contain useful information for staff to pass on to members of the community. This includes a booklet “Consumer Advice – General consumer and safety advice for the older consumer”, a ‘no doorstep traders’ sticker and a list of useful telephone numbers about how to report cold callers.

It is hoped that the training and packs will enable staff to quickly and easily identify cold caller crimes or situations, which require intervention from trading standards or the police. Armed with this useful information staff can act as the eyes and ears of the council when out and about in the community.

Pippa McVeigh, Wiltshire Council’s Head of Crime Reduction said: “Wiltshire Council is committed to keeping Wiltshire residents safe and working together is a much more powerful way to tackle this type of crime.”

DC Andy Fee, Distraction burglary coordinator for the SW region said: “This joined-up approach is part of an on-going effort to tackle rogue traders and distraction burglary and by working together we aim to prevent more members of our community from becoming victims of doorstep crime.”

Wltshire homeowners wishing to know more about how to deal with Bogus Callers can call Consumer Direct on 0845 040506.