Marcus Jones, Nuneaton’s Member of Parliament, has backed this year’s National Consumer Week campaign aimed at protecting vulnerable people from doorstep crime.

National Consumer Weeks runs from 3 to 7 November this year, and the town’s MP is urging local people to help those most at risk in the local community.

For 2014, National Consumer Week will be focusing on doorstep crime. Whilst it is difficult to calculate the true level of doorstep crime due to differences in, and the level of, reporting, Trading Standards have estimated the number of incidents could be as many as 170,000 each year.

Commenting on the initiative, Marcus said: “Doorstep criminals exploit vulnerable citizens by convincing them to pay for substandard or incomplete repair work, charging extortionate fees for their services, or threatening residents who do not comply. It can be a very intimidating and scary experience for people, particularly for vulnerable people, and Nuneaton is not immune to the threat posed by rogue doorstep traders.

“I am pleased to back the 'Good neighbours stop rogue traders' campaign because it focuses on preventing doorstep crime by encouraging neighbours, family, friends, carers and the wider community to look out for those most at risk in our communities.”

For more information and materials, please visit the Trading Standards website at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/ncwinfo