Warning of 'back to work' conmen in Teesside
Residents in Teesside have been warned to be on the look-out for a gang of conmen posing as young offenders on a "back to work" scheme.
It comes after a youth knocked on the door of Colin White, the deputy head of the South Tees Youth Offending Service.
He claimed to be on a "back to work" programme organised by Middlesbrough Youth Offending to sell goods door to door.
Middlesbrough Council said the incident was reported to Cleveland Police.
Mr White, also a former detective inspector with Cleveland Police, said: "They may appear genuine but if they're claiming their work is endorsed by the Youth Offending Service they're definitely bogus callers.
"Anyone representing an organisation is required to have an ID badge and should be happy for the householder to contact their organisation if they are still uncertain."
He said YOS rehabilitation initiatives never involved cold calling or doorstep selling of this nature.
The incident is being investigated alongside a number of other reports of youths claiming to be selling dishcloths, tea towels and pegs as part of a youth offending programme.