Probation Linked Door to Door Sales

Dear Member,

Sometimes come in from members of the public relating to door to door sales over the county where people are suggesting that they are ex-offenders linked to the probation service. There have been some similar incidents this week up in the Middlewich area. These individuals will often flash an ID (which very few people actually look at) and state or insinuate that they are young offenders who are on probation and that they are undertaking this work to prove that they aren't going to re-offend or a similar story. Individuals will generally have a bag of goods that they are trying to sell the house occupant.

As always the police advice on such matters is never buy goods and services from the door. However, I know from past interactions with members of the public that some people feel sorry for these individuals and give them the benefit of the doubt to help them reform and buy something from them.

Today, I have been speaking to a member of the local probation service who organises the activities that individuals on probation undertake. She has confirmed that the probation service never sanction individuals to engage in door to door sales.

In the main, it appears that these individuals are polite when trying to sell at the door and do not cause issues or become abusive when people refuse to buy. It is however worthwhile to confirm that irrespective of their claims none of these individuals are in any way linked to or encouraged by the probation service.

Kind Regards