Preventing Doorstep Crime By Supporting No Cold Calling Zones

The zones are small discrete areas at risk of attack by criminals posing as officials or traders in order to steal valuables or money, or undertake unnecessary work or charge inflated prices. These activities are referred to in this document as “Doorstep Crime”.   

Typically a zone covers an area such as a Close, Street or Sheltered Housing project with a high vulnerable population, or a high fear of crime, or known incidents of Doorstep Crime. The zones are identified by signs on lamp posts etc.  Within the zone, all residents are advised on how to check the identity of genuine officials who may need to call unannounced and to refuse access to their property if they have any doubts.  

Whilst zones have no force in law, they give householders within them the confidence to say NO to cold callers.  There is evidence that the establishment of zones helps to deter doorstep criminals, some of whom use information obtained from other offenders to target pervious victims.  

Support for the establishment of the zones is given in the form of advice and information packs, door stickers and the provision of street signs.  The aim is to work with vulnerable communities in small geographic areas and increase their resistance to, and awareness of the ways in which cold calling is used as a tactic by offenders to perpetrate doorstep crime, including distraction burglary.

This document sets out the policies, criteria and procedures which will be used by Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards, Leicester City Trading Standards Service, Rutland Trading Standards Service, Leicestershire Police, Leicester Police and Neighbourhood Watch when providing support for the establishment of No Cold Calling Zones.  

It is recognised that legitimate businesses that use cold calling as a method of selling or canvassing have concerns that these zones will have a detrimental effect on their business.  However, the policies, criteria and procedures set out below are intended to ensure that the establishment of each zone in Leicestershire is a proportionate and legitimate response by residents to the threat of a very serious crime.

A majority sign-up by the residents is critical to prevent any legal challenges or implications for the Partner Agencies.  Consultation with the residents affected will take place before any zone is implemented. Records of the consultation process, including data, will be kept by Trading Standards, Police or Neighbourhood Watch.  This information may be kept electronically.

If a zone cannot be established then specific support will be given to any vulnerable residents within the area considered.

The support of partner organisations will be sought in order to ensure the schemes’ success, although the inclusion of particular agencies may vary from area to area.  Trading Standards will always be involved as they will take lead actions in its implementation and follow up work.  Trading Standards will inform and consult other agencies as appropriate, including District and Borough Council, Crime Reduction Partnerships, Police and Neighbourhood Watch etc.

It is beneficial if schemes have a local ‘champion’, similar to a neighbourhood watch coordinator, who will manage the scheme on a daily basis and be a contact point.   

Suitable areas for the establishment of a zone will be identified by analysing partner intelligence records and local knowledge of the area and its residents. Partner consultation is recommended.  Requests for zones received from communities need to be evaluated in light of the guidance in this document.  Zones should be relatively small and easily defined and may be co-terminus with a neighbourhood watch area.

Justification for setting up a Zone will be based on the following Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines:

The extent of individual zones should be restricted to those properties where there is clear evidence of risk.  In order for the area size to be proportionate to the identified problem, consideration should be given to:

An evaluation process (detailed later) will ensure that the zone remains proportionate.

Each No Cold Calling Zone must be clearly marked by street signs.  These highly visible signs will indicate that Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Trading Standards and the Police are involved in the zone.  The use of Police logo is an acceptable practice where the aim is to reduce crime and the fear of crime.  The signs will be provided by Trading Standards.

The No Cold Calling Zone signs indicate ‘No Uninvited Callers’ and will be strategically placed to ensure that visitors to the area are made aware of the residents’ wishes.  

The signs may be fixed to lampposts and walls etc but NOT without permission of the property owner or local council.  They should be visible throughout the zone.

In some cases, local Highways departments may be commissioned to install the street signs.  If not involved in the installation, they will be informed of locations where signs are installed.

Door stickers have proved a useful means to deter callers.  These are supplied by Trading Standards free of charge and should be used at individual premises throughout the zone.  Some legitimate businesses will call at houses not displaying a sticker even if they are clearly within a No Cold Calling Zone.

After the provision of appropriate advice, all residents will be given an information pack which will include:

Funding is available for 2 years 2009 – 2011, for the development of 200 zones allocated according to over 65 population data in Leicestershire (120), Leicester City (60), and Rutland (20).  There will be no cost to the residents since all signs, advice and information will be provided by Trading Standards using East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership funding.  

A public launch may be organised by Trading Standards or the Police if it is felt that this is necessary to raise awareness and encourage support from the public and partner organisations.  Preferably, the launch should be covered by local media and it should take place in or nearby the area concerned.

Incidents of Cold Calling, for whatever purpose, within the zone should be reported to Consumer Direct.   A response may be provided by Trading Standards or the Police, depending on the nature of the incident reported.  A Data Base of non-urgent incidents will be recorded for future analysis and possible additional action in the event that trends are identified.

Evaluation of chosen zones will take place on an annual basis throughout each authority’s area. Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards have decided to survey two zones per district; totalling 14 zones. Any action required as a result of the survey is to be actioned by Trading Standards.  

It is impossible to measure the number of crimes prevented by No Cold Calling Zones.  However, an assessment can be made using information such as: