Residents are being warned about door knockers claiming to be ex-prisoners selling cleaning products as part of a rehabilitation programme.
The warning comes after a Selston resident contacted Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards about a man knocking on their door, claiming to be an ex-convict.
He said the man had claimed to be mending his ways before attempting to sell the resident household products at very high prices.
Residents are warned to watch out for callers carrying ID with ‘official looking’ logos, which are not legitimate.
It has been confirmed by the local probation service provider, The Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland Community Rehabilitation Company, they do not run a scheme where offenders are encouraged to sell products from door-to-door.
Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Safety Committee, said:
We always advise residents not to buy at the doorstep and be firm with pushy salespeople.
“However, kind-hearted residents often feel they are helping these alleged former ex-prisoners to turn their lives around so agree to buy their products at inflated costs.”
Supervised offenders work in teams in the community to complete reparation work like ground clearance.
This work has been ordered by the courts and is known as Community Payback.
Residents are urged to contact the police on 101 if they are suspicious of doorstep callers in their area or are approached by people claiming to be working on probation selling products door-to-door.
