Pro Installer December 2014 - Issue 21 | Page 23

23 PRO INSTALLER DECEMBER 2014 PRO NEWS @proinstaller1 Call for checks to prevent doorstep crime The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) are calling for people to carry out thorough checks on traders in a bid to crack down on doorstep criminals. This is part of a major new campaign that was launched as part of National Consumer Week in November to tackle doorstep crime. The campaign titled, ‘Good Neighbours Stop Rogue Traders focuses on how residents can look out for signs that a neighbour or someone in their community may be being targeted by doorstep criminals and encouraging them to step in and alert the authorities. Doorstep crime involves criminals preying on vulnerable people, often older and living with ill health, by cold-calling at their homes and pressurising them into paying extortionate prices for unnecessary goods or services. The outcome is often botched jobs on roofs, driveways and gardens and the practice often sees vic- tims being frogmarched into banks and building societies to withdraw large sums of cash. Throughout National Consumer Week, community events took place across the country to equip people to help spot doorstep criminals and to promote ‘Nominated Neighbour’ schemes which are available in many areas, while partners from banks, building societies, neighbourhood and older people’s charities and victim support groups are also playing their part. This coincides with a massive enforcement effort spearheaded by the National Trading Standards’ Doorstep Crime Project Team. This