Be aware of so-called ‘Nottingham Knockers’ recently working in the county, police in Shropshire have warned residents. Named after a scam originating in the East Midland town, young people travel across the country, knocking on doors and claiming to be ex-convicts trying to mend their ways by selling everyday household products.
Despite often being of poor quality, they sell the items at inflated prices and kind-hearted householders often feel obliged to buy them, believing they are helping the young people to turn their lives around.
However, the sellers are not involved in any officially recognised offender rehabilitation programme and most do not have a Pedlar’s Certificate, which is needed for salespeople to legally sell door-to-door.
Police have received some reports of sellers becoming pushy and even aggressive and one man was reported knocking on doors within a sheltered housing complex for elderly people in Ludlow, having managed to get through the secure door.
Inspector Edward Hancox, from Shrewsbury Police Station, said police always advise residents not to buy from doorstep sellers or allow anyone into their home that they do not know or are not expecting.
“If you have no choice but to open the door to see who is there, always use a security chain or bar,” he said.
“If anybody comes to your door trying to sell you something, our advice is to refuse and close the door. The same goes for cold callers who might be offering services such as gardening or maintenance work.
“A Pedlar’s Certificate is necessary for an individual to legally sell door-to-door and these are only issued by police under strict conditions but even if the seller has one of these, it does not mean the goods they are selling are of high quality.
“If you have any concerns about an individual or they refuse to leave and become aggressive, you can contact police on 101.”
