Bogus Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Caller Warning

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding all residents that any Fire Service personnel visiting their home will be wearing fire service uniform and have photographic identification which displays their full name and brigade number.

Residents are advised not to let anyone into their home unless they are confident they are who they say they are.

The advice comes following a bogus caller who struck in Tamworth and attempted to gain entry to a house. Two men wearing suits knocked on the door and told the man who answered they were there to check his smoke alarms.

The man refused to let them in because he wasn't expecting them. They then handed him a Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Home Fire Risk Check postcard, which he used to call the Service and make a genuine appointment.

"These cards are readily available to the public at a number of public places and are given out at events however our staff can be always be identified visibly by the fire service uniform which has fire service branding on it."

"All personnel also carry photographic ID which will either be on display or shown before attempting to enter a property. If anyone is ever unsure they should not feel embarrassed to ask the caller to wait outside and they can ring our switchboard to check they are who they say they are."

"No member of our staff would be offended if anyone did this, we are more than happy to wait until the occupier is comfortable to let us in".

"We may knock on your door at some point without an appointment if we are carrying out free home fire risk checks in your area or if there has been a fire nearby however all of staff will always be in their uniform and no one is under any obligation to let us in if they do not want to or it is inconvenient."

If you feel threatened by someone calling at your door, or suspect a bogus caller then dial 999 and report the incident to the Police.