Legitimate Traders and Callers

• In order to inform legitimate traders and callers, letters are sent to interested parties such as utility companies explaining the scheme and asking for their co-operation. It is made clear to such companies that the scheme simply reinforces good practice and that legitimate callers, who have followed the correct procedure and who carry appropriate I.D., will not be prevented from doing their work. However, it does mean that anyone knocking on doors may be asked to provide identification, either by the householder, another member of the community or officers deployed in the area.

• An initial pot of £50,000 was made available by BT to start the No Cold Calling Zone scheme nationally.  It is not clear whether this funding continues to be available for new schemes.  At this stage the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership has not been approached to help set up such a scheme.  If a pilot scheme were to be designated in the Sevenoaks District, funding may be sought from the Community Safety Partnership for signs, letters, leaflets and other publicity which would be considered along with other bids for any available external funding.

• The pilot should identify whether the main two agencies, KCC Trading Standards and Kent Policy involved in this scheme are able sufficiently to resource additional schemes.

• Other schemes in the country have identified reductions in crime against vulnerable households and it may be beneficial for No Cold Calling Zone schemes to be adopted in appropriate parts of the Sevenoaks District.  The scheme may be resource-intensive for Trading Standards and Kent Police and it is suggested that the results of the pilot project in Cranbrook should be taken into account before consideration of any similar scheme in the District.  It would be essential for any scheme to be implemented in partnership with the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership and appropriate town and parish councils.