Cold Calling is when someone calls at you door uninvited and usually because they want to sell you something for example home improvement companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

No it’s not. It is a voluntary scheme which relies on residents of the area to say no to Cold Callers and to report them to Trading Standards or the Police. The zone is there to give a message to callers that they are not wanted in that area and that people in the area will not do business with them so there is no point in them calling!

 

Will this affect my milkman or the Avon lady?

 

No. Milkmen do no generally ‘cold call’. They usually have a long term relationship with residents of the area. The same generally goes for the Avon lady or the Betterware catalogue person who is normally a neighbour. They do not call but usually leave a catalogue so that the customer can contact them if the require anything.

 

 

No. Meter readers should really be making an appointment with you to call anyway or you might not be in! You should always ask them for identification and if in any doubt you should call your utility company to confirm who they are.

 

You may be also entitled to free services from your utility company including access to a password scheme so that your utility company will use this if they visit. A leaflet is available from Energywatch which explains how to access this service.

 

 

Everyone else including duster sellers, home improvement companies, utility companies offering new services to you, charity collectors etc

 

 

Not all areas are suitable to be an NCCZs. NCCZs are most suitable for areas where a large proportion of the residents are vulnerable for example the elderly or residents who have experienced doorstep crimes and/or burglaries.

 

 

No. The NCCZ is 'owned' by the residents not by Trading Standards or Police. It usually requires a 'champion' to begin the process, this might be a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, local councillor, or even just a concerned neighbour. However, this is not a job for a loan individual to take on and they will need a team of helpers.

 

 

There is a small cost to setting up a zone and it will depend on how big the zone is i.e. the amount of signs, packs and letters needed.

 

 

This is why it is important not to work alone. You may be able to obtain funding through partner agencies i.e Police etc. You will need to have funding in place before you begin and funding may be available from some your key partners:

 

 

All police forces are committed to crime prevention through community policing. How they do this varies from one force to another. In addition, the police generally take a lead role in organising Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

 

 

Local councils are required by law to consider community safety issues in relation to everything that they do and as such, it will be very high on their priority list. A local council will be a key partner if only through its network of contacts and ability to influence others. All areas will have a local councillor, maybe two or even three. Local councillors are elected by local residents. In some areas there could be a parish / town councillor, a district councillor and a county councillor - three different people. In others, particularly unitary, metropolitan and London Boroughs, there may only be one councillor representing an area. Whichever is the case, councillors can be very influential people and their support is important.

 

 

These are partnerships between councils, police and other agencies (usually based on Council areas). They help establish and deliver community safety policy and initiatives, bringing together many agencies with community safety roles (contact through your local council). They have budgets to support local initiatives and are an important route to possible funding.

 

 

Neighbourhood Watch is a well-established national scheme usually operated and managed through the local police, but delivered by local residents and volunteer Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators. The organisation and local focus of Neighbourhood Watch has made them one of the most common local

partners.

 

 

· Community wardens / Community beat managers

· Parish Councils

· Housing agencies

· Tenants’ associations

· Age Concern / Help the Aged

· Social Services

· Home Improvement Agencies (accessed through local councils)

· Citizens Advice Bureau

· Fire and Rescue Service

· Faith organisations

 

 

You will need to get the support of your local police and show that your area fits the criteria to become a zone. You will also need to show that the residents want the scheme. NCCZs should not be imposed on residents so you will need to consult with them to make sure they want their area to become a zone. There is no point in making an area an NCCZ if the residents do not support it as it will not work.

 

 

You could hold a public meeting but not everyone can attend these. We recommend that you write to each resident in the zone and give them the opportunity to object to the zone going ahead. Letter templates to do this are available in the Useful Information section.

 

 

Contact Leicester City Trading Standards. They will be able to provide the packs and signs providing you have the funds and can show you meet the criteria.

 

 

You might want to consider handing out the packs to householders in person. If you do this you should not cold call on the residents as you will be defeating the object of the zone!

 

We recommend that you write to residents explaining that you will be calling and when by letter. Remember that you should carry ID. You may want to ask the police or PCSO's to accompany you on these visits. Remember, depending on how many houses you visit, you will need a team of people to help you with the visits.

 

 

The packs all have a NO Cold Calling Sticker for householders to display at the door or in a front window, a checklist for residents to write down details of unwanted callers, leaflets, a letter and a FAQ sheet. You may want to tailor the type of leaflets in the pack to meet the needs of the residents.

 

 

You should obtain insurance to cover the volunteers who help you to fit the signs and in case the signs were to fall or cause injury to someone at a later date.

 

You will need to get permission from Leicester City Council Highways Department before you can erect the signs and the signs have to be at a certain height. If the signs are damaged or are moved by the council whilst maintaining the lamposts you are likely to be responsible for replacing them.  

 

 

Once you have set up the zone you will want to let people know about the area. Contact your local media, they are likely to be interested and may want to publicise it.

 

 

Most residents of zones report that they see a marked decrease in the number of unwanted callers. However, if someone still calls refuse to do business with them. Point out that the area is a NCCZ and that they have breached it. Make a note of who they are and any vehicle they have and report it to the 101 number. If you suspect they have or intend to commit a crime, report it to the police.

 

 

Leicester City Trading Standards will call out to incidents during office hours were the zone has been breached and the trader is still there. We will explain to the unwanted caller that they have breached the zone and ask them to leave. If they have already left the zone but you know who they are, Trading Standards will contact them formally and ask them not to breach the zone again. If the breach the continues, they will name and shame the trader.