Cold Calling Control Zones

This initiative has been developed in partnership with City of York Council Trading Standards.

Cold Calling Controlled Zones aim to prevent ‘doorstep crime’ i.e. distraction burglaries and crimes associated with cold calling. They are also aimed at reducing the fear of those crimes.

Uninvited doorstep sellers, bogus workmen, high-pressure sales people and bogus officials can target anyone, but research shows that older people and those living alone are most at risk. These zones are specifically targeted at helping those particularly vulnerable members of the community.

Cold Calling Controlled Zones are identified by street signs (see picture above) placed on lamp posts at each end of the zone and residents displaying a sign in their window. The City of York Council, in partnership with the ‘Safer York Partnership’ and North Yorkshire Police, are providing the zones for residents free of charge and co-ordinating the process of ‘rolling out’ further zones across the city.

Our statistics show that Cold Calling Controlled Zones make consumers more informed and empowered to deal with doorstep callers, and significantly reduce the fear of doorstep crime.