Cold callers left out in the cold

14 March 2007

Bedfordshire County Council has become the first county in the country to become a no cold calling county. The county-wide No Cold Calling Zone has been designed to make Bedfordshire unattractive to cowboy workmen and unwanted doorstep sellers, but has also been effective in reducing crime.

Cllr Bob King, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "No Cold Calling Zones are immensely popular with our residents across Bedfordshire, and I am pleased that we have now been able to extend the scheme to cover the entire County.

"In Bedfordshire, No Cold Calling Zones have saved residents over £100,000 that would otherwise have been pocketed by criminals, and distraction burglaries have dropped by 21%. The number of calls we get about cold calling has increased 8 times over."

Bedfordshire County Council has pioneered No Cold Calling Zones, and is the only Council in the country to employ Special Police Constables to enforce them. Their work has involved the pursuit of other criminal traders, leading to the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of more than 20 traders.

Cllr King added: "The Rapid Response team has intervened in some appalling cases, with very positive results for Bedfordshire residents.

"I am very grateful for the support of Bedfordshire Police in this initiative, and also our partners at the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and BT, who have been kind enough to support us financially."

To report a Cold Caller, phone 08454 04 05 06.

ENDS