Police target rogue traders

NORTHERN Constabulary and Highland Council Trading Standards have joined forces in two days of action this week to protect Highland residents and legitimate businesses from crime.

This was part of a multi-agency operation, supported by the Borders Agency, Vehicle and Operators Standards Agency, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Work and Pensions and Highland Councils Benefit Fraud Team.

The action targeted rogue traders, focusing on those involved in exterior home maintenance doorstep selling activities. There are clear links between rogue trading of this kind and distraction burglary and criminals of both kinds are known to travel around the Highland area looking for victims.

Gordon Robb, Trading Standards Manager said: "These types of initiatives aim to catch offenders and disrupt their activity as well as highlighting the dangers of rogue trading and doorstep crime. It is also a good way of letting legitimate business know that we are doing what we can to drive out the rogue trader and to identify, help and advise businesses in the area in order to allow fair trade to flourish to the benefit of the consumer.

"Rogue traders ruin people’s lives. They often prey on vulnerable people, including the elderly and infirm, tricking them into buying products and services which they do not want or need before disappearing.

"Those involved in one form of illegal activity do not tend to be law-abiding citizens in other aspects of their life. Working in partnership with Northern Constabulary and other agencies, we can seriously disrupt their offending patterns through a range of tactics and send out a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated.”

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