'Cold call' crime blitz

The five zones, which were set up last year, are subject to a range measures to deter unwanted callers - and 89 per cent of residents surveyed believed them to be a success.

Police and council officials say the scheme, which encompasses about 400 homes across the borough, has had a significant impact on domestic burglaries which fell by a third to 300 in the 12 months to August.

Figures released show also show thefts were down 18.7 per cent and total recorded crime fell by 9.9 per cent in the same period.

Nationally, figures from more than 1,000 zones show an 80 per cent reduction in doorstep crime, according to the Local Government Association.

Geoff Birkett, executive director for Barnsley Council environmental services, said: "No cold calling zones have proven exceptionally successful.

"A survey of the first zone of this type to be set-up in Barnsley - at the Rose Tree Estate in Cudworth - shows that 89 percent of respondents believed it had helped deter unwanted callers, which includes rogue traders and bogus salespeople, and also the opportunists who use cold-calling as a chance to commit a distraction burglary.

"We now have five such zones in Barnsley. I am sure they have made a small but significant contribution to the dramatic fall in domestic burglary over the last 36 months, which has dropped by a staggering 56 percent throughout the borough."

Now more zones are being drawn up to prevent crooks getting a foot in the door. Street signs will be installed and residents will be urged to report unwanted callers. They will also be given training to give them the confidence to say no to sales people.

Mr Birkett added: "More zones will be identified in the future to help deter unwanted callers, increase people's awareness of potential burglaries and make it more difficult for rogue traders to operate."

Barnsley's five No Cold Calling Zones are Rose Tree estate in Cudworth - the first in South Yorkshire, Longley Close in Barugh Green, Priestley Avenue in Kexborough, King Street in Goldthorpe and Darhaven in Darfield.

People who have been targeted by unwanted callers should contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team or call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for advice.