The South Glos Post

Trading standards officers in South Gloucestershire have stepped up their efforts to combat incidents of rogue trading in the area with the introduction of four more ‘No Cold Calling Zones’.

The zones were set up by trading standards at the request of residents and Neighbourhood Watch groups, who have chosen to say ‘no’ to uninvited doorstep callers.

The new zones cover Cooks Close in Bradley Stoke, Simmonds View in Stoke Gifford, Kings Drive in Hanham and Sunningdale, Sandy Lodge, Troon and Hoylake in Yate.

Visitors to the No Cold Calling Zones will see street signs on lamp posts to warn traders, and residents will also be provided with information packs and a door/window sticker to display. The aim is to protect residents as well as empowering them to refuse traders selling at their door, through advice and information.

Residents are encouraged to report breaches of the zones to trading standards and the police as traders who ignore the zones could find themselves being arrested for committing an offence.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Police are appealing for information after the driver of a car was reported to be acting suspiciously in the Stoke Gifford area.

Just after 8:30pm on Tuesday 25th January, a 12-year-old boy was walking along Longdown Avenue, on the new housing estate next to the Abbeywood MoD complex.

A dark-coloured BMW three-series car pulled up and the driver asked the boy to get into the car.

The boy ran away, at which point the car sped off.

The boy went home and reported the incident to his mother, who alerted police.

The driver of the car was a white man in his late 20s.

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Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Police in South Gloucestershire are appealing for information about a burglary in which a woman was threatened with violence.

Two men entered the bedroom of her home in Cobb Court, Stoke Gifford at around 1am on Monday 10th January and demanded cash.

They also stole her mobile phone, a pink Taco Lite, and left through by the front door. The 31-year-old victim, who was shocked but otherwise unhurt, later found that the rear patio doors had been smashed open.

She has described the offenders as black, both 18-20 years old in dark clothing. Both wore some form of item covering their lower face and had hoods up. Both spoke with local accents.

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Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Police across South Gloucestershire say they worked hard with local communities to ensure a horror-free Halloween.

Across the district, officers visited local schools and youth clubs to talk to young people about ‘Trick or Treating’ safely and responsibly. The talks reminded youngsters not to go into people’s homes and explained that they could be arrested if someone’s property was damaged in a prank.

Police also gave out posters for people to display in their homes either welcoming callers or asking ‘Trick or Treaters’ to leave them in peace, through Neighbourhood Watch and to sheltered housing accommodation.

Local shop workers also played a part, refusing to sell flour and eggs to children in the run-up to Halloween at the request of neighbourhood teams.

The hard work paid off with the lowest number of 999 and non-emergency calls to Avon and Somerset police since 2008.

On the night, uniformed police officers were joined by Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables and volunteers to provide a reassuring presence on the streets, while officers also patrolled in plain clothes.

Read on for details of selected incidents reported by the police teams »

Source: Avon and Somerset Police