Published: May 23, 2009
Two arrests in Burnham-On-Sea during crackdown on rogue traders

Police in Burnham-On-Sea arrested two people during a crackdown on rogue traders earlier this week.

Officers were out in force across Somerset and the initiative was part of a nationwide Rogue Trader Day, when the police and other agencies worked together to tackle doorstep criminals.

Rogue trading has many forms, but often involves people falsely claiming that urgent work is needed on a property, leaving work unfinished and intimidating people into handing over money.

In the Burnham-On-Sea area, six police personnel and three trading standards officers took part in the day of action.

In total, 10 trading standards offences were uncovered and 19 vehicles were stopped and checked. Local officers also visited local banks and building societies, where they reminded cashiers to be alert to vulnerable customers withdrawing unusually large sums of cash.

Two men were arrested in Burnham-On-Sea and subsequently cautioned for fraud offences.

Superintendent Damian Kearney said: "This day of action is a statement of our intent to tackle rogue traders wherever they are in Avon and Somerset. They often target the most vulnerable in our society and we are united with our partners in our desire to stamp this behaviour out."

A key aim of the day was also to educate people about how to spot and avoid rogue traders. Safer Stronger Neighbourhood Teams handed out leaflets and visited vulnerable members of their communities in their homes to speak to them about rogue traders.

Pictured are police officers speaking to a genuine trader during this week's operation