Sponsored by
Two arrests made in Burnley as part of rogue trader clampdown
A TRADING Standards target has been caught by police in Burnley as part of Operation Rogue Trader.
Last Thursday, police stopped a transit van at a checkpoint in Queen Victoria Road, Burnley. A Trading Standards investigation is underway into paperwork found in the vehicle that could be fraudulently displaying various organisations' logos and quality marks.
The vehicle was also seized for having no insurance and the driver, a 44-year-old man from Nelson, and the owner, a 46-year-old man from Burnley, were reported for summons.
The joint operation between police, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards and other partners sought to warn people about the dangers of rogue trading and doorstop crime.
It was run across the force last week and was hugely successful with 247 police and 92 separate trading standards offences identified and a further 182 offences from other agencies such as VOSA, the DVLA and the Environment Agency.
Over 6,500 leaflets were distributed and 3,000 visits were made to homes of the most vulnerable members of our communities, in addition to 82 visits to repeat victims of crime.
Some 1,158 vehicles, mostly traders and builders were stopped by officers on targeted patrol and check sites across Lancashire and 439 businesses were also checked.
Supt Bill McMahon, who led the operation, said: "This was a very successful operation which raised awareness with both the public and potential rogue traders, reminding them law enforcement agencies are out in Lancashire safeguarding the public against those who target the elderly and vulnerable.
"Doorstep criminals are a problem facing the safety of our communities. The only effective way to tackle and help combat this issue is by all agencies working together and using all the tools available to them to clamp down on the rogue traders."
Jim Potts, Chief Trading Standards Officer for Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service, said: "Tackling rogue traders is a high priority for Trading Standards. Each year we receive hundreds of complaints from Lancashire consumers who have had problems with doorstep traders. Elderly and vulnerable people are victimised, paying large sums of money for work that is substandard, overpriced and doesn't need doing.
"Unscrupulous rogues and distraction burglars can have a devastating impact on people's lives and their activities are often linked to a vast network of crime.
"The rogue trader operations that took place last week involved a number of agencies including Trading Standards and the police. Partnership working is an integral part of tackling the scourge of rogue traders – work that is carried out relentlessly by numerous agencies throughout the year. Initiatives like the Rogue Trader Day are an important opportunity to raise awareness and to give consumers the confidence to say no to cold callers.
"If anyone thinks they have been the victim of rogue traders or uninvited doorstep callers, they should report the matter to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06."
Anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of any distraction burglar or rogue trader should ring their local police or call Crimestoppers, the national charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Weekly Golf Results - September 21st
- Has violin that Colne man played as Titanic sank been found?
- Book review: The Ring and the Crown by Alison Weir, Kate Williams, Sarah Gristwood and Tracy Borman
- Sign up now for Pendle Witch Walk to mark 400th anniversary of Lancashire Witches
- Guitar legend at star at Burnley Blues Festival
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Pendle
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
