Residents say no to doorstep traders
Launching Cold Calling Control Zones at Whinney Hill Park Community Centre, Brighouse Pictured are Sgt Dean Maddocks, coun Colin Stout, local residents Les and Jane Riach, Katie McCormack, PC Liam Hay and Laura Gleeson
MAJOR sales companies will be fined if they attempt to knock on doors on Whinney Hill Park estate, Brighouse.
The Cold Calling Control Zone, which has been led by Sergeant Dean Maddocks, of the Lower Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, will prevent incidents of doorstep crime, raise awareness of the activities of rogue traders who target vulnerable people, and give residents the confidence to say no to uninvited callers as a community.
Demand for the Whinney Hill Park Cold Calling Control Zone, increased due to two recent thefts which happened within nine days of each other. These came on top of reports of bogus cold calls from the water board and an incident of distraction burglary.
The move which has included West Yorkshire’s Trading Standards, Neighbourhood Policing and Pennine Housing, has been welcomed by residents.
Les Riach said it will have a positive effect on the estate. “It will put people especially the residents who are aged 75 plus at ease and take the pressure off them and with the stickers going in the windows it will hopefully deter cold calling,” he said.
Information packs have been given to each house in the zone, highlighting the relevant authorities to call for assistance.
Sergeant Maddocks said they wanted to work together to keep an eye on the community.
“Hopefully this will empower the residents to make contact with trading standards if some of the bigger companies are still coming into the area. It will put off some of the smaller companies that may not be aware and will provide an extra layer of security. But we don’t want to alarm anyone because it is not a high crime area.”
Brighouse councillor Colin Stout (Ind) also welcomed the move. “It is a good initiative with Pennine Housing, the police and the council and it should reassure a lot of residents on Whinney Hill that they don’t have to be pestered by cold callers.
“I would like to extend the scheme maybe to other places like Clifton and Hove Edge.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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