ROGUE traders were targeted during a day of action by Dorset Police.

Officers from Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the Road Traffic Unit joined Trading Standards officials to clamp down on rogue traders and pushy doorstep sellers who con vulnerable people into paying for unnecessary or vastly overpriced work to their homes.

They stopped any tradesperson they saw working on houses or in gardens as part of a week of activities.

Of the 25 traders stopped and spoken to during the day of action in Dorset, 11 were given advice on doorstep trading legislation and three were given fines for driving offences.

Three incidents of rogue trading were reported to Dorset Police during the week. Officers from Dorset Police and Trading Standards have spoken to the victims and have begun an investigation into one of the incidents.

Crime prevention and design advisor for Dorset Police Debbie Oldfield said: “Anyone found to be conning victims into paying for unnecessary or vastly overpriced work are dealt with accordingly.

“If you feel that you have been a victim of a rogue trader please do not feel embarrassed. Contact Dorset Police or Trading Standards and report it.”

If you receive an unexpected call at your door from someone offering to do work, put the chain on the door before opening it and always check the caller’s identity by phoning the number in the telephone book. Shut the door and get them to wait outside.

Do not phone any telephone number provided by the caller, it could be bogus.

Never agree to any work offered on the doorstep, no matter how urgent the caller says it is.

Always get three quotes for work and if possible get recommendations from family and friends, and never pay cash up front.

If you are concerned or intimidated by someone at your door call 999.

For more information, or to report anything suspicious, call Dorset Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

To find a trader you can trust visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk.

For more information and advice call the Citizens’ Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506.