Rogue traders, criminals (including unlicensed waste carriers) who take advantage of householders using high-pressure sales techniques, have been targeted during a national day of action to prevent innocent people becoming victims of crime.
Operation Rogue Trader was carried out on 13 April as part of a week-long crime prevention initiative and involved the execution of warrants, the use of automatic number plate recognition to identify vehicles used by criminals and patrols of areas inhabited by older or vulnerable people.
The operation involved a collaborative effort from Police and Trading Standards staff across the country with support from the Department of Work and Pensions, the Environment Agency (EA), HM Revenue and Customs, the DVLA, Border Force and Scambusters. For its part, the EA conducted roadside waste licence and vehicle checks to identify potential waste criminals, and EA staff made well over 200 road-side checks of vehicles and site visits.
Operation Liberal
Operation Rogue Trader is organised by Operation Liberal, a national intelligence unit, which covers crimes like burglary, fraud and Trading Standards, and is made up of all forces in Scotland, England and Wales.
The operation uses a collaborative approach in an attempt to link associated crimes and gather intelligence on key individuals and organised crime groups throughout the UK.
The same operation was carried out in 2015 and resulted in the arrest of over 100 people, the recovery in £3.1 million worth of property and the inspection of over 5,000 vehicles.
All waste collectors should have valid EA permits. The EA advises the public to check traders’ credentials to ensure they are legitimate, and says that if they become suspicious, they should report the trader to the EA, which has specialised teams investigating tip offs from the public.
Illegal operators ‘risk polluting the environment and undercutting legitimate business’
Nicky Lawton, Deputy Director of the EA’s Enforcement Service said: “The Environment Agency works closely with partner enforcement organisations to identify and stop rogue traders. We will take action against illegal operators who risk polluting the environment and undercutting legitimate businesses.
Steve Playle of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute added: “Operation Rogue Trader is a great opportunity for the different partners involved in tackling doorstep crime to come together and carry out some enforcement work and to raise awareness of the issues. Cold calling criminals undertaking property maintenance work continue to exploit vulnerable and elderly home owners.
“Trading Standards officers right across the UK are committed to making criminal’s lives as difficult as possible by sharing intelligence, causing disruption and taking criminal prosecutions where necessary.”
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