Crackdown on city’s rogue traders

Officials say they want to stop people “manipulating” householders into buying goods they don’t need, or using a fake identity to trick their way into somebody’s home.

Coun Harry Harpham, deputy leader of Sheffield Council, said: “It is vital that we stamp out the behaviour of rogue doorstep traders who influence and prey on the elderly and people living alone, causing great distress and sometimes embarrassment.

“As a council we have committed to ensuring that our time and effort is targeted at the most vulnerable people in Sheffield and we are keen to join forces with the Office of Fair Trading to push the message out to our residents.”

In an attempt to combat cold calling, Sheffield Trading Office has already set up cold calling control zones in partnership with the police, housing organisations and community groups.

Those zones target “vulnerable” areas of the city, such as those with an elderly population.