RESIDENTS are being urged to sign up to a police scheme which aims to deter cold callers in Redditch.
Those signed up to ‘Nominated Neighbour’ will receive bright yellow window stickers which say callers will only been seen if they are a trusted person and their identity is checked.
All it takes is a neighbour, friend or family member to agree to be nominated and have callers directed to them.
If they are not happy with who is at the door then the police will be called.
The scheme deters scam callers who will not want to reveal their identity.
Coun Nyear Nazir, the Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community services and regulatory services, said: “Unfortunately doorstep crime is a problem that never goes away.
“Some con artists and rogue traders will knock on doors to see if they can bamboozle someone, often leaving the householder out of pocket and shaken up.
“But as the people already using Nominated Neighbour know, this scheme can give cold callers the cold shoulder.”
The scheme is free and funded by West Mercia Police to help reduce doorstep crime.
It is delivered to homes by the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership.
Leader of the council Matt Dormer added: “By harnessing a partnership of police, council, and neighbourly support, this scheme is effective help for residents concerned about doorstep crime.”
Nominated Neighbour has been warding off doorstep criminals and rogue traders since 2017.
For more information contact the council’s Community Safety team on 01527 534187 or [email protected]
