Shropshire police warning over door-to-door sales
Door-to-door salesmen using hard-sell techniques while posing as ex-convicts on a probation scheme have been reported to be operating in Shropshire again.
This time the callers have been targeting the Much Wenlock and Broseley area.
Police today confirmed there is no such probation scheme in the county and say the salesmen could be intimidating vulnerable people.
Police Community Support Officer Mal Goddard said: "We have had reports of such callers being very persistent in their efforts to clinch a sale.
"Our advice on the subject of cold callers or door-to-door salesmen is very clear – do not buy from cold callers. Remember, if no one in an area buys these goods, then the sellers are less likely to return.
"If you have been offered goods for sale in this manner and have felt that the callers have over stepped the mark with their sales technique, please call 101 to report them.
"You may be robust enough to send such callers on their way, more vulnerable people in the area may not be, so please look out for your neighbours and friends."
Cold calling to sell goods door-to-door is not illegal, however, people engaged in such activity should be in possession of a pedlar's licence to do so. Over the Christmas period aggressive door-to-door sellers were reported to police across the county in Telford, Newport, Shrewsbury and Ludlow.
None of those sellers had a local accent and they have been referred to as the 'Nottingham Knockers', as that is the city where the selling practice is believed to have originated. If anyone has information call police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
