BUSINESSES are being warned to be wary of sales firms offering advertising and claiming links with the police.

Dorset Police and the county's trading standards service said that people should be vigilant as the force does not currently have any external publications in which organisations can advertise and it does not cold call businesses.

The head of the economic crime unit for Dorset, Police Detective Inspector Sue Wynn, said: "Anyone who is approached by a company selling advertising space claiming to represent Dorset Police should take the name of the caller, the name of the publication and a contact number, and report the call to trading standards.

"These sales people don't care if you are a charity, a small business or a local franchise of a national company. They want your money and will often get abusive when their advertising is refused."

A recent example involved a Weymouth company which received a call from a salesman claiming that he was phoning on behalf of Dorset Police and asking for support for the force from the company by putting an advert in an emergency services journal. The company didn't agree to an advert but later received an invoice.

Dorset's divisional trading standards manager Ivan Hancock said: "With any advertising sales, businesses need to be extremely cautious and check exactly what is to be produced, in what quantity and where and how will it be distributed. Make a note of any claims made and repeat them back to the sales staff."

Any businesses approached can call trading standards' business advice line on 01305 224702 for further advice. Consumers wishing to make complaints about suppliers of goods or services they have bought can call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.