Norfolk County Council's Trading Standards service currently protects 15,269 properties across the county through 341 active No Cold Calling Zones (NCCZs), councillors heard at a committee meeting on 15 July 2026.

The zones allow residents to declare they do not wish to receive uninvited traders at their door. Traders who ignore no-cold-calling signs or door stickers may breach the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which treats such behaviour as unfair in all circumstances and can lead to prosecution.

Trading Standards officers can respond to live cold calling incidents as part of a duty rota, sometimes alongside police. Enforcement typically begins with advice and written warnings before escalating to formal legal action, provided enough evidence can be gathered.

The service also runs a Trusted Trader scheme with 224 vetted and approved local businesses, giving residents a way to contract with traders who have been checked by Trading Standards.

The issue was raised at the Strategic and Corporate Select Committee after a public question from Sandrine Modesti about what action could be taken against callers ignoring no-cold-calling signs. Officers confirmed that no-cold-calling zones do not cover political canvassing or genuine charity collections — only uninvited commercial traders.

For vulnerable residents, the service offers home visits, call blocker installations to filter unwanted phone calls, and referrals to Victim Support where a crime has been identified. Residents can also sign up for regular scam alert emails through the Norfolk County Council website.

Committee members also raised whether enforcement powers could be delegated further down to district or parish council level, with officers agreeing to consider a future report on the topic.