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In a survey conducted by the Trading Standards Institute over 9,000 randomly selected householders were asked two questions:

• Do you want doorstep cold callers coming to you?
• Would you welcome a visit by a door step cold caller?

The answers revealed that 96% of people didn't want cold callers knocking on their door and no-one, not one single householder, said they would welcome a visit by a cold caller.

But, how can you stop cold callers coming into your neighbourhood or village?

"No cold calling" zones are springing up all over the Country and all over Bedfordshire. They advertise the fact that cold callers are not welcome in the area. Starting one is not difficult and although there is a cost implication, for things like the street and doorstep signage, money is available for these items through local crime reduction and community safety partnerships.

The Trading Standards Institute have produced a comprehensive booklet dealing with all aspects of starting a scheme, and they have kindly allowed BEST Advice to reproduce it in full. The document is copyright to the TSI and is reproduced with their kind permission.

Setting up a No Cold Calling Zone booklet (Trading Standards Institute)

For more information on this initiative, which has shown to reduce door step crime as well as unwanted cold callers, visit the Trading Standards Institute website.

Alternatively contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team and discuss the idea with them. Details of how to contact your local Community Support Officer, Neighbourhood Police Officer or SNP supervisor are shown in the Community Policing section of the site.