Community bans doorstep cold-callers (From St Helens Star)

Community bans doorstep cold-callers

9:51am Tuesday 13th November 2012 in News

DOORSTEP cold callers have been banned from a community.

Haydock has its first no cold calling zone, covering Ireland Road, Greenwell Road, Antrim Close, O'Connell Close and part of Haydock Lane.

The move is part of a campaign warning of the dangers of doorstep crime.

Haydock joins seven other No Cold Calling Zones – at Billinge, Moss Bank, Newton-le-Willows, Sutton, Thatto Heath and two in the town centre.

Signs have been installed and residents provided with door stickers, crime prevention advice and information alerting to the dangers of bogus callers and rogue traders.

Councillor Richard McCauley, who oversees safer communities for St Helens Council, said: “Winter can bring an increase in door-to-door sales, some of which might not be all they seem.

“But as well as bogus tradesmen, people should also be on their guard against seemingly innocuous callers – people claiming to have lost a ball in your garden, offering to carry out repair work or pretending to be from a charity, energy company, the council or even the police.”