A multi-agency sting operation targeting rogue traders raised awareness but failed to catch any lawbreakers in action.

Officers from the council’s trading standards, environmental health, benefit fraud and street scene teams along with the Met Police Force, HMRC and the UK Border Agency checked 29 companies, stopped eight vehicles and visited 29 households during the six hour operation on Wednesday (April 25).

The police Mobile Reassurance Unit set up in Sutton High Street gave advice to over 350 residents about crime prevention meanwhile Town Centre Sergeant Simon Alexander visited banks in Sutton town centre to raise awareness amongst staff of the need to call police if customers come in to withdraw large, out-of-character, sums to pay for building or home improvement work.

Operation Liberal started at 10am when five teams set out to disrupt and enforce against rogue traders operating in the borough, promote partnership working and to raise public awareness of doorstep crime.

Councillor Ruth Dombey, leader of Sutton Council said: "This operation was about showing rogue traders that we won't tolerate their practices and we will do everything in our power to catch them before they can hurt our residents."

"We know that the majority of traders are honest and reliable but it’s that minority that make operations like this so important."

If anyone has information concerning rogue traders or requires any other free consumer advice please contact Citizens Advice consumer on www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/consumer_service or 08454 04 05 06.

Alternatively visit www.sutton.gov.uk or call 020 8770 5070 for details of the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme.