Our thread made the letters page this week - thanks NWN.
Anywho, reading the article I'm more than ever convinced that this is very wrong: "Residents were being given stickers to display informing traders they would be prosecuted under The Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 if they cold-called".
Assuming the scheme hasn't invented some non existent legislation and the article actually meant The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, these Regulations
do not make cold-calling on a house with a "no cold-callers" sign a criminal offence.
If cold-calling on a house with a "no cold-callers" sign was a criminal offence under the Regulations then Trading Standards would already be prosecuting cold-callers - they must, it would be their duty under Regulation 19 - but they don't.
And if a "no cold callers" sign was enough to criminalise cold-calling then there would be no need to create a NCCZ - all you'd have to do was display the sign on your door.
The Trading Standards Institute even says that
No Cold Calling Zones have no force in law and they don't even mention The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in their NZZC
handbook.
The Office of Fair Trading's
guidance on the Regulations doesn't say anything about clause 25 prohibiting cold calling and doesn't mention "no cold calling" signs.
So the situation is that the residents choose the things they want to prohibit in their street and the state sanctions the zone by allowing residents to hang signs defining the zone on street furniture, and by agreeing to turn up and "prosecute" anyone violating the zone.
But there is no offence, and I can't accept that the state should threaten the civil libity of the citizen with a sanction that doesn't exist. I don't particularly want Scottish Power knocking on my door, but if I feel strongly about it I can hang out a sign, but how can my neighbours declare my street a no-carol-singing zone without my consent? I like carol singers. And what if my neighbours want to declare my street a no-dog-walking zone? It is no less lawful that a No Cold Calling Zone, so why not?
I'm sorry, it's completely wrong. Put whatever sign up in your window you liket, but don't pretend that it's enforceable when it ain't, and don't impose your preferences on your neighbours.