Replacing your windows? Consider security

BS7950 windows are recommended by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), because they achieve a minimum level of security sufficient to deter the majority of opportunist burglars.

Evaluations of the police Secured by Design (SBD) project, which requires the use of BS7950/ PAS 24:2012 windows, strongly indicates that their use has worked to reduce the vulnerability of houses to burglary and have contributed to the 50% fewer burglaries experienced by SBD homes as compared to homes not built to SBD standards.

FULL ARTICLE

The key to secure access for the elderly and infirm

25 March 2013

The key to secure access for the elderly and infirm
Medical professionals and carers of the elderly, disabled or infirm living in their own homes, can be hampered in their attempts to reach inhabitants by the very security installed to protect them. The only police approved domestic 'Key Box' is therefore hugely important for gaining access to premises in life-threatening situations. Read more here

National Stalking Awareness Day 2013

National Stalking Awareness Day will take place on 18^th April 2013.


National Stalking Awareness Day exists to raise awareness about the crime of stalking. Each year there is a different ‘theme’ and because of the recent stalking law changes, this year’s focus is ‘Know the Law, Use the Law’. Currently the law is slightly different in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland but importantly stalking behaviour is against the law across the UK.


More information about National Stalking Awareness Day 2013 can be found here, where you can also download a number of pre-made presentations, posters and leaflets to help you raise awareness of the day.

Trading Standards Update

21/03/2013 Beware Negative Option Marketing

Adverts are appearing on social media websites promoting ‘free’ product trials for goods including beauty products and slimming pills.

Consumers are encouraged to take part and provide their credit or debit card details to pay for postage and packing.

But, hidden in the small print is a monthly subscription agreement that could cost them over £1000 a year if they don’t return the items quickly and cancel.

However, the unscrupulous foreign based businesses behind these offers make it incredibly difficult for consumers to cancel in time and quickly begin taking money from their credit or debit cards.

Advice to consumers:

•           Never provide your credit or debit card to any business you don’t know or trust.

•           Beware of any ‘free trial’ offers.

•           Always read the small print.

•           Search for the business on-line. If they are dodgy, someone on the Internet is likely to have already posted a warning.

•           If you are a victim, contact your bank as soon as possible to cancel the recurring payments. You have a legal right to have these payments cancelled. Even if the business refuses, your bank must cancel them for you.

21/03/2013 Bogus Pop-Up Offer

A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards seeing a pop-up appear on his screen after visiting a well-known on-line retailer. The pop-up asked for the consumer’s credit card details in order to receive 10% off his next purchase.

Trading Standards warn that it is unlikely that these unusual pop-ups are genuine. More likely, they are an indication that the computer has been infected with a virus. Never input credit or debit card details in to a pop-up. If you do need to use your credit card or debit card on-line, ensure you trust the website and can see that it is secure (look for the padlock sign in the web browser). 

13/03/2013 ‘Free’ Security Survey

A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards receiving an unexpected withheld number call from someone offering a free survey which the consumer believed was associated with security and alarms.

Consumers are advised to be very wary about offers of free security surveys, a tactic often employed by high pressure salespeople to sell expensive and unsuitable alarm systems.

Consumers are often offered free alarm systems which then come with expensive monitoring contracts costing thousands of pounds!

For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/c8lfner

Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.). 

If you have any information you wish to provide to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or to appear in future email alerts, please email me.
 For more information on scams, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss

Simon Cripwell

Trading Standards Officer

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Old Budbrooke Road Warwick CV35 7DP

Tel: 01926 414039

Mob: 07771 975570

Email: simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Web: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss

My normal working days are Monday to Thursday

Good News from Warwickshire Police

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