Rogue trader cases in Oxfordshire at highest for four years

Trading standards officers have called on homeowners to remain vigilant for “vile” bogus callers after figures showed that between April and December there were 294 reports of rogue traders in Oxfordshire.

The figures represent a marked rise on the last financial year, in which 254 reports were made over 12 months.

Officials have warned the total number of reports could rise to more than 360 cases this year – 10 times the level when records began in 2006-7.

They say incidents soared in the first 10 days of December when there were 20 reports from worried residents.

Nigel Strick, head of Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards department, said: “Within just four years the joint police and doorstep crime unit is expecting to see a 10-fold increase in the number of cases reported to it.

“Much of the increase is due to victims knowing where to turn to for help, thanks in part to campaigns that have been publicised recently in the local media.

“But there is no doubt that these vile criminals continue to pose a serious threat to the county’s more vulnerable residents.”

Martin Woodley, of trading standards’ doorstep crime team, said the team was unsure why there had been so many incidents in December.

He said: “At the moment I don’t think we are winning, but we are putting in hard work to get the figures down.

“The worrying thing is December is always quiet – yet this December it has been incredible.”

This year Trading Standards and police have recovered £80,000 for victims, but since April 1 bogus callers have still managed to con Oxfordshire residents out of £566,519.

Eight people have been convicted of rogue trading offences, including four men who have been jailed.

Incidents have included the sale of cheap fish and money being taken for building work that was never carried out. There have been 20 arrests and investigations have taken trading standards officers around the country.

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