Cold callers not welcome

Photo: Picture: DARREN ROBINSON

Oldham’s newest cold calling zone is launched by (from the left) Rick Hughes, from Trading Standards, Mike Fleming, Oldham Council Community Safety Service, PC Lawson Ralphs, and Lisa Quigley, First Choice Homes neighbourhood officer.

VULNERABLE residents are being helped to slam the door on cold callers.


An official No Cold Calling Zone has been launched in Falkirk Street, Greenacres, to protect against doorstep crime.

Oldham launched the first No Cold Calling Zone in Greater Manchester in 2006 at St George’s Square, Chadderton, and that scheme has also been updated.

The Oldham Doorstep Crime Action Group, a partnership of agencies within Oldham committed to tackling bogus callers and led by the Community Safety Unit and Trading Standards, created the zones with residents’ full backing.

They are designed to discourage salesmen and women from calling at doors and encourage the residents to feel more confident in saying “no” to cold callers and fully check their identification.

Residents have also been educated on their rights when dealing with doorstep callers and any traders who do call will be challenged by Oldham Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police, who will check out their credentials and explain the legalities of the zone.

As well as street signs and window stickers, the group has delivered an information pack.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “With the No Cold Calling Zone in place rogue traders and burglars will know that residents are fully educated on their rights and home security and if they do knock on their doors they can expect an immediate response from the agencies involved.

“These zones are set up to help prevent vulnerable residents from becoming victims of rogue traders and distraction burglaries in their own homes, crimes we are committed to tackling in the borough.”

Mike Farrell, team leader for the Crime Reduction Unit, said: “The introduction of No Cold Calling Zones is an important element in our determination to reduce doorstep crime. Distraction burglary, an offence often aimed at the more vulnerable members of our communities is a despicable offence and this type of initiative introduces a first line of defence that can be effective in protecting our elderly residents.”

Insp Kevin Rankin, of the Oldham East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “A good deal of doorstep crime could be prevented if residents were more aware of doorstep etiquette.

“As part of this scheme we want to teach residents how to be more assertive when dealing with cold callers, and hopefully this will deter them from preying on vulnerable people.

“Our advice is simple — ‘if in doubt keep them out’ and don’t be pressurised into buying anything from cold callers.”

For more information, or to report any incidents, contact Consumer Direct on 08454-040506 or police on 0161-872 5050.