Brighton & Hove City Council Trading Standards Service together with Sussex Police have launched a new warning sticker for residents to put on letter boxes aimed at deterring unwanted doorstep callers.

The sticker warns unwanted callers that they are not welcome and that if they continue to call they may commit a criminal offence. The wording of the sticker is taken directly from legal opinion sought by another council and subsequently shared across the Trading Standards community.

Brighton & Hove’s sticker is designed to fit on a standard-sized letterbox flap and is coloured bright yellow so as to be immediately obvious.

Crime Reduction Officer Paul Knight said:
“The stickers will reinforce the message to rogue sales people that they are not welcome in Brighton & Hove, while at the same time showing support to those people who may find it difficult to persuade a persistent and overbearing caller to leave their property.

“Residents should remember that if you are uneasy for any reason about a trader being in your home, you have a right to ask them to leave immediately. If they refuse, they are trespassing on your property. Phone 999 and contact the police. However, it is much better not to let them in at all."

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, cabinet member for environment, said:
“We want to support residents in saying no to rogue traders and these stickers will help them do that. No-one should feel intimidated in their own home and we would urge anyone who has concerns to contact the police or Consumer Direct."
 
Brighton & Hove Trading Standards have supplies of the stickers, which can be obtained by contacting Consumer Direct South East. Or they can be collected from John Street , Crowhurst Road and Holland Road police stations.

Consumer Direct can be contacted on 08454 040506

For more information about Brighton and Hove Council view:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk