Totteridge Ward Neighbourhood Watch Update by Kitty Nabarro

As representative of Totteridge Ward for Barnet Boroughwatch I attend three meetings a year. At the AGM we had a talk from Trading Standards and from our Borough Commander Stephen Kavanagh, who inspires a lot of confidence and is doing a great job in the Borough of Barnet. There is a lot of Positive Policing going on and there have been quite a number of arrests. Several people have gone into custody, although some of them are 14 years old and too young to be dealt with. PC Andrew Corbett?s report in this magazine gives you details of work being carried out by our Totteridge Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Rogue traders and distraction burglars: the main points from the AGM

They communicate with each other and share information
They are extremely charming and difficult to apprehend because people are taken in by them
They use psychological profiling
They are relentless and don?t give up

Our job:

NeighbourhoodWatch and Trading Standards are working together and have created an intelligence system to fight them.

We must not let people in if we don?t know who they are If these criminals find that they need to go from door to door without success they will move on to another area.

Some pose as Police, Gas, Electricity, and Water personnel and show some kind of ID. If you?re unsure who they are, obviously DO NOT PHONE THE NUMBER THEY SUGGEST. Phone the number that you have for these services to confirm that these people are bona fide. You can also phone Consumer Direct on
08454 04 05 06.

If you don't buy, they won't try

Don't buy goods or services at the door. These people are a real pest; they will target the elderly and vulnerable and charge extortionate amounts for shoddy or no actual work, often many thousands of pounds. They will sell the names and addresses of those that they have conned to criminals, and their victims can almost be guaranteed another visit from cowboy traders or worse. For detailed advice contact Barnet Boroughwatch on 020 8733 4409 or PC Simone Newall at Barnet Police on 0208 733 5814.You can also report rogue traders to Consumer Direct (see number above), who will take action.

Please remember that our Safer Neighbourhood Team, based atWhetstone Police Station, is always interested to get your feedback and concerns. It is crucial that you pass on relevant information to your neighbours.

PLEASE HELP OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD BY COMMUNICATING AND BEING VIGILANT.