Bogus traders blitz a success

A ONE-day crackdown on bogus traders who prey on vulnerable people in the district was hailed a success. Police officers last week visited Sawtry, St Neots, Buckden and Huntingdon as part of the county-wide operation, code-named Rogue Trader, alongside me

A ONE-day crackdown on bogus traders who prey on vulnerable people in the district was hailed a success.

Police officers last week visited Sawtry, St Neots, Buckden and Huntingdon as part of the county-wide operation, code-named Rogue Trader, alongside members of Trading Standards and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Officers spoke to more than 60 people concerning their trading activities and, although no arrests were made, several people were reported by the DWP for claiming full disability benefit while working. Sgt Ed McNeill, from the Rural Community Action Team, said: "Officers spoke to many genuine traders on the day and they were pleased we were taking positive action to trace and locate rogue traders because it would benefit their legitimate businesses.

"We have prevented a significant amount of benefit fraud through the DWP and gathered a substantial amount of intelligence that will assist us in future operations and general day-to-day work."

David Broughton, from Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Service, said: "We want to reduce the number of incidents where residents, in particularly the elderly, have been targeted by cold callers offering to carry out property repairs.

"We have many cases of people being charged extortionate amounts for very poor quality work or sometimes no work at all.

"We are also aware that, on occasions, people are driven to their banks to withdraw savings to pay these aggressive gangs.