Working with partners to crack down on rogue traders offending in Surrey

Last month, we shared that two men had been sentenced after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud after over 20 elderly and vulnerable victims in Surrey and Sussex were deceived out of thousands of pounds. 

This case came to our attention in 2024 when Woking’s Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) were carrying out their daily review of local crime trends. During these reviews, they noticed a concerning pattern of rogue trading offences, which revealed an Organised Crime Group (OCG) were operating in Woking. They would target vulnerable residents, convince them to agree to unnecessary work, and then overcharge them by thousands of pounds.

From the outset, Woking SNT worked closely with South East Regional Crime Unit (SEROCU), who helped focus on “Achilles heel” tactics which included:

Alongside targeted warrants and investigations, they prioritised public awareness. By using demographic data and fraud heat maps, they identified areas most at risk and launched several fraud awareness days (door-to-door visits with police, council, and Neighbourhood Watch). They also ran town centre stalls with Crimestoppers to share fraud prevention advice.

Police and partners recognise the importance to keep tackling fraud in the county, with this proactive approach now evolving into ‘Operation Replica’. The latest day of action took place in Epsom last Monday (24 November), and was supported by the following agencies:

On the day, 40 vehicles were stopped and examined, 7 of which were seized for having no insurance or tax. Officers arrested 4 people for drug driving. There were 18 traffic offence reports for offences including seatbelts, insecure load, or using a mobile phone. 7 fixed penalty notices were issued, 15 referrals were made to the Department for Work and Pensions for benefit fraud. 

Matt Higgenson, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said: "These road stops demonstrate the importance of partnership working to tackle waste crime. By working together with our partners in sharing intelligence and taking action on the ground, we can get better results and further close the net on illegal waste operators.”

Rogue traders are criminals who take as much money as possible from their victims – who are often elderly and live alone. Please report any incidents of rogue trading to us as this really helps us see the bigger picture and to identify key offenders.

David Coleman, on behalf of the Serious Organised Crime Partnership board said: “On the day, a man was arrested for drug driving and having no insurance, we seized his vehicle. The company he worked for sent another vehicle down to move across goods, however, when checks were carried out, we discovered the second vehicle also had no insurance or tax, so that was seized too.” 

“It’s great to see the work we initially started off the back of the rogue trading offences in Woking has now evolved into a much larger piece of preventative and proactive work.”

 “These criminals stop at nothing to take hard-earned money from their victims. We know, especially from the case already mentioned, that these people do not care about the vulnerabilities of the people they are targeting. This must stop.”

There are some ways you can protect yourself and your family from rogue traders:

Report all incidents of doorstep crime to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or to the police on 101, in case of an emergency contact the police on 999.