Successful day of action targeting rogue traders

Successful day of action targeting rogue traders

The sun was out and so were our officers on Wednesday, 29 April as they targeted rogue traders set to scam Surrey residents.

34 vehicles were stopped by our Vanguard Road Safety Team and examined by colleagues from the Commercial Vehicle Unit and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Fifty per cent of these were subject to enforcement or words of advice, and this was all possible thanks to a day of targeted action close to the M25 in Godstone.

Officers were looking for insurance, driver licence, operating licence or motor offences, plus checking for stolen goods or metals onboard vehicles. As a result, two vehicles were seized, six traffic offence reports were made, eight fixed penalty notices were issued with fines totalling over £1,000.

The day was a great example of partnership working as Tandridge District Council, Trading Standards and the Environment Agency joined us to make it as impactful as possible.

Rogue Traders are criminals who take as much money as possible from their victims, who are often elderly and vulnerable.

This targeted event began back in 2024 when Woking’s Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) were carrying out their daily review of local crime trends. During these reviews, they noticed a concerning pattern of rogue trading offences, which revealed an Organised Crime Group (OCG) were operating in the borough. They would target vulnerable residents, convince them to agree to unnecessary work, and then overcharge them by thousands of pounds.

From the outset, Woking SNT worked closely with Southeast Regional Crime Unit (SEROCU) and alongside targeted warrants and investigations, they prioritised public awareness. By using demographic data and fraud heat maps, they identified areas most at risk and launched several fraud awareness days (door-to-door visits with police, council, and Neighbourhood Watch). They also ran town centre stalls with Crimestoppers to share fraud prevention advice.

Police and partners recognised the importance to keep tackling fraud in the county, with this proactive approach then evolving countywide with ‘Operation Replica’ in November 2024 and a day of road stop checks targeting potential rogue traders.

Following on from the success of this, the operation has grown once again and become ‘Op Replicate’ which, led by Surrey, also covered Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.

Bernadette Lawrie the force Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer, said: “The day of action in Godstone was a powerful example of what can be achieved through a strong multiagency approach. It was great to see police and partners working side by side to target rogue traders and doorstep criminals who seek to defraud some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

“This activity will undoubtedly disrupt criminal behaviour and sends a clear warning that this type of exploitation will not be tolerated. By taking proactive action, we are not only disrupting offending but also deterring criminals from operating in our neighbourhoods.”

David Coleman, on behalf of the Serious Organised Crime Partnership board added: “It’s great to see the work we initially started off the back of the rogue trading offences in Woking has now evolved into a much larger piece of preventative and proactive work spanning several counties.

 “These criminals stop at nothing to take hard-earned money from their victims. We know that these people do not care about the vulnerabilities of the people they are targeting. This must stop.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Rogue trader criminals who target people in their own homes are the lowest of the low. In the most extreme cases, victims have been known to lose their life savings and even their homes.

“Here in Surrey – our policing teams and partner agencies are fighting back. It was fantastic to join the operation in Godstone here and see first-hand the sort of action that is being taken to disrupt the organised criminality that lies behind rogue trading.

“It is a great example of how police and other agencies can come together to work in partnership to crackdown on criminals coming into Surrey and help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

Here are some ways you can protect yourself and your family from rogue traders:

Try to avoid talking to unexpected ‘tradespeople’ at your door as it is unusual that legitimate tradespeople will cold call you.

Check that the trader is registered with a truster trade scheme. Check reviews, ask for references and do your research. If you can’t find any information, there's usually a reason.

If possible, get at least three written quotes and avoid paying for work at your doorstep and do not go to a cash machine if asked to.

A genuine roofer will happily give you a written estimate. Rogue traders often avoid paperwork — or try to get cash up front. A trustworthy roofer won’t rush you, demand cash or hide their details.

Never pay in full before the work is done.

If you’re unsure, speak to a family member, friend, or neighbour before agreeing to anything. Rogue traders rely on pressure and isolation — so take your time and get a second opinion.

We would strongly recommend installing video doorbells, as they can capture key evidence should anything happen.

Ensure you report any suspicious activity and if someone’s knocking on doors or making you feel pressured, you can call the police on 101 — or 999 in an emergency.

Please share this advice with friends, family, neighbours, or anyone else you think might fall victim to this type of scam.

Take your time, check they are legitimate, and keep yourself — and your money — safe.

You can watch our Op Replicate video here.

Report all incidents of doorstep crime to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or to the police on 101, in case of an emergency contact the police on 999.

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Ella Bowers
(Surrey Police, Communications assistant, Surrey)