13 November 2008
Around 600 houses in Trethomas have become the first official "No Cold Calling Zone" in Caerphilly county borough.
The "No Cold Calling Zone" was introduced following extensive work by the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership (through the Bedwas Neighbourhood Policing Team and CCBC's Trading Standards department) to reduce doorstep crime in the locality.
Although there is not a high crime problem in the area, over a number of years, there has been an increase in the number of doorstep crime incidents in the streets identified for the zone.
Also, statistics show that 24% of the resident population for the zone is over 60 years of age.
Therefore, the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership took the decision to set up the "No Cold Calling Zone", as opposed to the lesser "Cold Calling Control Zone" set up in neighbouring authorities.
The "No Cold Calling Zone" does not make it illegal for doorstep callers to knock at your door, but it does make it clear that they are not welcome. The ultimate aim is to discourage doorstep callers and allow Gwent Police and Trading Standards to intercept them where possible.
Caerphilly Council's Community Safety Wardens have erected signs on street lampposts and window stickers have been given to residents to discourage 'bogus callers'. Each home has also been given a pack that containing information that will give residents the necessary skills to be vigilant of disreputable doorstep callers.
Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman, who officially launched the "No Cold Calling Zone" said, "We are delighted to be able to implement the county borough's first "No Cold Calling Zone", which aims to discourage disreputable doorstep callers from calling at the homes of some of our more vulnerable residents. I am pleased that by working with our colleagues at Gwent Police, we are able to improve the quality of life for our local residents."
Cabinet Member for Social Services and Older Person's Champion, Cllr Judith Pritchard said, "It is good to see that the council and police are taking action against cold callers in an area where one in four residents are older people. This scheme should deter cold callers from the area altogether, but hopefully if they do call, older people in the Trethomas area will now feel better able to turn them away without fear and with confidence."
Sergeant Kevin Childs from Bedwas Neighbourhood Policing Team said, "We are pleased to see this "No Cold Calling" zone implemented in the Trethomas area and hope that it will empower local residents to turn away any uninvited callers. It is not illegal to cold call, however, by establishing these 'zones' through partnership working, it will make clear to rogue traders and bogus callers that they are not welcome in this particular area."
For further information, please contact Caerphilly Council's Trading Standards department on 01495 235 291.
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