A SCHEME designed to alert the community to potential criminals – including rogue traders and distraction burglars – is growing.
Stockton Heath Parish Council heard that the iCAN consumer alert scheme now has 3,000 members – and is expected to have 5,000 by the end of the year.
The scheme, run by Trading Standards, offers free text or land line message alerts if there are problems such as bogus doorstep sellers, distraction burglars or anti-social behaviour in a member’s home area.
Principal environmental health officer Phil Ramsden said: “These people tend to target vulnerable or older people and the service warns if there is a risk in their area.”
He said the service is open to everyone and uses the “eyes and ears” of the community. People can report information on the trader’s work such as sales pitch, type of ID and advertising material.
The information is reported and then passed on to other members.
