SUSPECT work vans will be stopped and their credentials checked in a bid to catch rogue traders on Wednesday.

Police, trading standards officers, and representatives from HM Revenue & Customs and the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency will conduct the operation to stamp out rogue trading.

The Darlington Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership campaign will stop suspect vehicles for traders' credentials to be checked and pass on advice to residents if they are targeted by a rogue trader.

A mobile police unit will also be in Sainsbury's car park, in Victoria Road, from 10am to 4pm.

Rogue traders are people who provide sub-standard work under false pretences, or those who cold call residents offering their services as part of scams aimed at targeting vulnerable residents.

Councillor Bill Dixon, cabinet member for neighbourhood services and community safety, said: "Rogue traders cause untold misery to people by ripping them off, whether it's through bad workmanship, disappearing before a job's finished or by cold calling and pressuring them into having work done they dont really want. They often target the elderly or vulnerable.

"I hope Wednesday's operation sends a clear message to these rogue traders that they're not welcome in Darlington. They won't be tolerated.

"I urge anyone who thinks they might have been targeted by a rogue trader to contact the police. You can almost guarantee you won't be the only person they've tried to scam and the more information we have about these people, the more likely we are to catch them."

Inspector Alison Jackson from Darlington Police said: "Rogue traders target our most vulnerable people and we wont tolerate it. We'll be stopping vehicles around the town which look like traders vans and trucks to check documentation, inspect goods and if there is cause, to enter and search work premises.

"We also want to hear from anyone who thinks they have been targeted by a rogue trader. We need information from the public. The mobile police unit will be at Sainsbury's car park, so people can go along and speak to officers if they have concerns or to get crime prevention advice."

For more information or to report an incident involving a suspected rogue trader, contact Darlington Police on 0345-60-60-365.

end