23
PRO INSTALLER DECEMBER 2014
PRO NEWS
@proinstaller1
Call for checks to
prevent doorstep crime
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and National Federation of Roofing Contractors
(NFRC) are calling for people to carry out thorough checks on traders in a bid to
crack down on doorstep criminals. This is part of a major new campaign that was
launched as part of National Consumer Week in November to tackle doorstep crime.
The campaign titled,
‘Good Neighbours Stop
Rogue Traders focuses
on how residents can
look out for signs that
a neighbour or someone in their community
may be being targeted
by doorstep criminals
and encouraging them
to step in and alert the
authorities.
Doorstep crime involves
criminals preying on vulnerable people, often older
and living with ill health, by
cold-calling at their homes
and pressurising them into
paying extortionate prices
for unnecessary goods or
services. The outcome is
often botched jobs on roofs,
driveways and gardens and
the practice often sees vic-
tims being frogmarched into
banks and building societies
to withdraw large sums of
cash.
Throughout National
Consumer Week, community
events took place across the
country to equip people to
help spot doorstep criminals
and to promote ‘Nominated Neighbour’ schemes
which are available in many
areas, while partners from
banks, building societies,
neighbourhood and older
people’s charities and victim
support groups are also
playing their part.
This coincides with a
massive enforcement effort
spearheaded by the National
Trading Standards’ Doorstep
Crime Project Team. This