POLICE officers in North Somerset have been working to raise awareness of distraction burglaries and rogue traders as part of a national initiative.

The scheme is aimed at reducing the number of people who fall victim to unscrupulous doorstep callers.

Part of this work has been to set up a series of no cold calling zones with two new ones recently launched at Stowey Park in Yatton and Byways mobile home park in Clevedon.

PCSO Caroline Harris is also hoping to launch a further 10 zones in Clevedon in the next two weeks and seven more will be created in Nailsea and Portishead.

Throughout April, PCSOs and beat managers have also visited more than 4,000 seven to 10-year-olds in Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead schools in a bid to encourage them to spread the message to their elderly relatives and neighbours.

Staff at banks, building societies and post offices have been given training to intervene if elderly or vulnerable people try to withdraw large amounts of cash and officers have also been out and about with Meals on Wheels representatives to talk to people directly and hand out window stickers to remind them of the doorstep code.

This code advises people not to open the door if they are not sure who is calling, to keep doors and windows locked at all times and to check someone’s identity before dealing with them.

Neighbourhood inspector at Nailsea Police Station, Sharon Bennett, said: “We want to remind those people who may be vulnerable that it is your doorstep and your decision. If you do not know who is calling at your address or home and you didn’t invite them, don’t open your door. Be confident and turn them away.”