Trading Standard officers from the Public Protection Partnership across Bracknell and Wokingham are cracking down on rogue traders and escalating the fight against notorious doorstep crime, working to protect vulnerable residents in and around the borough.

The mission of the vigorous campaign is to prevent residents from becoming victims of manipulative trade practices, including fraudulent property maintenance and repair scams, by gathering necessary intelligence to sharpen law enforcement measures.

On 17th July 2024, officers marked a highly productive day of action.

They engaged with multiple traders, conducting essential checks to ensure consumers were presented with the correct paperwork and by verifying if businesses handling waste possessed appropriate licenses.

One significant discovery during the operation was an unauthorised waste disposal site.

They intervened as a company vehicle arrived to offload waste, subsequently gathering relevant data.

The owner of the site has now been referred to the Environment Agency for crucial enforcement action.

Precautionary checks were carried out on two traders, resulting in satisfactory compliance relating to necessary paperwork and waste licenses.

Furthermore, two suspect vehicles believed to be scouting for customers in local residential areas were targeted for further investigation.

It was in the midst of the operation that officers discovered an 88-year-old resident tragically cheated out of £10,000 by a dishonest trader.

The case is currently under investigation, while officers offer significant support to the victim.

Councillor Iskandar Jefferies, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, resonated with a powerful statement; "We advise residents to be cautious when they are cold-called or receive unsolicited literature.

"Once they agree to have work done they may find out that it was unnecessary or done to a poor standard.

"Many people are vastly overcharged for the work undertaken or do not receive any paperwork or contracts.

"All quotes should include a 14-day cooling off period."

He further added, "We would like to thank the member of the public that alerted officers to the live incident.

"These types of crimes not only impact on the victim’s finances but also affects their physical and mental health.

"We won't tolerate this type of behaviour and will continue to take a robust approach to those caught perpetrating such actions."

On a hopeful note, Councillor Jefferies emphasised the ongoing measures to warn off such traders operate in fraudulent ways and maintained how law enforcement would step in without hesitation whenever needed.

This operation forms part of a series of initiatives across the area, intended to protect residents from scams that trick them into spending large amounts of money.

They are encouraged to promptly report any concerns or ongoing crimes.