Parish Information Section

The first ‘no cold calling zone' in Loughborough is being launched to reduce the chance of residents being targeted by distraction burglars, rogue traders and casual callers.

The zone covers Outwoods Drive in the Outwoods and Forest Road neighbourhood and 61 residents have signed up to the scheme.

A ‘No Cold Calling Zone' is a designated area where residents decide they no longer want traders calling at their homes without an appointment. It is designed to discourage distraction burglars, people who use high pressure sales techniques and rogue traders. No Cold Calling Zones are areas nominated in which cold callers are discouraged from calling. They are not designed to stop all callers and, thus, regular callers, utility services and known callers should not be deterred. Those involved in door to door selling may still call but should always provide prior notice of their intention to call. No Cold Calling Zones will discourage rogue traders who, for example, tell householders work needs doing and then charge exorbitant prices, sell poor quality items at high prices or pressure sell. The zones will also discourage those who use door step selling as the opening for distraction burglaries or to make plans for future burglaries.

The zone is marked using street signs at the entrance and exit to the zone and residents are issued with an information pack explaining how to say no to unwanted callers. The pack also includes window stickers, useful leaflets and contact telephone numbers. The sticker is meant to be stuck on a window at the front of the house and says, "Doorstep sellers BEWARE. You are not welcome here. Police and Trading Standards will be notified."

Jeanne Preston one of the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) co-ordinators for the Outwoods and Forest Road neighbourhood said; "Although there haven't been any distraction burglaries on Outwoods Drive the issue of casual callers came up very regularly at our Neighbourhood Watch meetings. We decided to see if the residents would like to be involved in a ‘no cold calling' zone so we visited everyone who lives on that road and found overwhelming support for the idea so we decided to go ahead."

The Neighbourhood Beat Officer, PC Nathaniel Lockley, is working with NHW to establish the scheme. Crime reduction packs will be delivered to each house and signs will be fitted to street lamps in the area to discourage unexpected doorstep callers from entering the area.

The blueprint for ‘No Cold Calling Zones' was created by Leicestershire Trading Standards Department. One of the first schemes in Leicestershire was set up in July 2006 to cover Linford and Verdon Crescent in Coalville. Six months after the scheme was launched, an evaluation showed that 96% of residents said they felt safer living in that area since the launch of the scheme.

PC Nathaniel Lockley said; "We are proud to launch this initiative, it is the first of its kind in the Loughborough area. We hope to raise awareness about crime reduction, reassure people and give them the confidence to say ‘no' to unwanted doorstep callers. We also hope it will deter those people who prey unscrupulously on the elderly and vulnerable from entering the area."

For more information about ‘No cold calling zones,' please contact the Rearsby Parish Council Clerk Sue Norledge (see home page for contact details).