AN AWARD-winning Dorset scheme which has dramatically cut crime by rogue travelling traders is being developed in Christchurch and Purbeck.

The Dorset Itinerant Trader Scheme, aimed at disrupting the activities of itinerant traders within the county, has slashed related crime by 74 per cent year-on-year.

The project also won a national award - the Brindley medal - from the Trading Standards Institute in 2002 for its success and community involvement.

Now the scheme, which was launched in Bridport and has been rolled out to East Dorset, is being developed in Christchurch and Purbeck.

Dorset County Council divisional trading standards manager Ivan Hancock said itinerant traders are not necessarily members of the travelling community, but can be anyone who visits an area for a while and then leaves after taking residents' money.

"We are working with the police, people like home watch co-ordinators, and other key individuals to tackle the cold calling problem," he said.

"Each year, we're trying to bring our focus to a different area. Each area's very different in how community groups respond and what's important to help raise the profile of this sort of problem."

As part of the scheme, the council also contact banks and taxi drivers to ask them to be alert for incidents of clients - particularly the elderly - withdrawing large amounts of money for house repairs.

Bournemouth and Poole councils both work with community groups and the police to combat the problem of bogus traders.

Poole consumer protection officers have also contacted banks to encourage their staff to be vigilant.

The Daily Echo is running a Don't Knock It campaign to increase awareness of the problem and how to deal with cold callers.

We are also encouraging our readers to join forces with us against rogue traders by signing our coupon asking the government to ban cold calling to sell property repairs.

First published: October 23