Door to Door Salesmen

The following report is from Rural East Devon Police:

Police have been made aware of a number of reports in the East Devon of males knocking on doors trying to sell various items over the last couple of days.

Reports state that when these males receive a negative response they become aggressive and threatening in their nature. They have been alleged to selling cleaning products and knives.

Anyone selling door-to-door is required to have a pedlars license which are issued by the local police force, for that area only. It is not commonplace within East Devon at this time.

Some individual’s may present a ‘Hawker’s Identification Certificate’ – these are not official Pedlar’s certificates and do not permit an individual to proceed door-to-door to sell items or offer services.

If you experience these aggressive salesmen then please call 999 if they are threatening or refusing to leave.

The males are saying that they are recently released from prison. We fully support the rehabilitation process and reintegrating of offenders into society. However becoming abusive, threatening and therefore committing offences is not in the spirit of rehabilitation.

Please remember:

- You do not have to answer the front door to people you don’t know

- You have the right to request ID

- You do not have to buy anything