SPEEDING down Thomas Lewis Way, with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring, the crackdown on rogue traders in Southampton begins with a suspicious looking white van being pulled over.

Singled out for considerable wear and tear, a small sticker claiming use for Highways Maintenance on the back and with no clear details of the business it provides, the vehicle instantly catches the eye of a Hampshire Trading Standards officer and the police driver quickly turns the car around in pursuit.

As part of a national crackdown, the officers checked the van's number plates and spoke to the driver.

After a ten-minute discussion it was clear the van driver was running a private driveway and patio business advertised by leaflet drops to homes in the city.

There was no suggestion the driver was a rogue trader but the Trading Standards officer did advise the businessman to register and take steps to be clearer about what his business involved.

In Hampshire, teams from Trading Standards were out with police on the hunt for bogus builders, dodgy driveway dealers and rogue roofers.

Stopping suspect vehicles and approaching vulnerable looking homes where work was being done, officers questioned more than 70 builders, workmen and tradesmen, checked 60 vans and trucks and gathered intelligence, using automatic number plate recognition units.

Detective Chief Inspector Dick Pearson, who co-ordinated the police operation said: "This was a high profile operation to show criminal traders that they will be dealt with swiftly."

Patrols focused on incidents where cold callers have charged for unnecessary work, overcharged for repairs or building, left work unfinished, threatened and intimidated homeowners, and even damaged property to obtain money.

In Southampton, four drivers were pulled over and a number of tradesman were questioned but all were found to be working legally.

Fence contractor Steve Harbut, of Complete Fencing in Maybush, said: "I have a small business and I'm always busy through word-of-mouth.

"Rogue traders are disgusting and you hear of old people being ripped off. It's terrible," he added.

"I always have a contract with customers that they pay me when the work is done and when they're happy with it. I've always been paid and, as they say, the proof is in the pudding."

In Portsmouth, a patrol spotted work being done on a pensioner's home and sent the builders away after finding they were charging too much.

Police seized two flatbed vehicles at Fleet services on the M3 and one vehicle in Southampton. Another vehicle with no insurance was seized in Portsmouth.

Speaking after the operation Phil Thomas of Trading Standards said: "While it's disappointing that the adverse weather conditions meant some rogue traders stayed indoors, today's operation still sent a clear message to these criminals that we are on their case.

"This is not the last they will see of us," he added.

As well as preying on vulnerable residents evidence suggests rogue traders are also linked to distraction burglaries.

Latest statistics show that one in four victims of rogue traders have also been victims of distraction burglary and the day-long operation formed part of an overall plan to tackle these offenders.

Hampshire County Council leader, Ken Thornber, said: "This initiative supports the ongoing projects that Hampshire County Council and its partners carry out to protect residents from unwanted doorstep traders, such as No Cold Calling Zones, our Buy With Confidence scheme and Quick Response Team.

"Thousands of pounds of savings are lost each year to these unscrupulous individuals for work which is overpriced, shoddy and often completely unnecessary and I welcome all action taken to combat this. It sends out a clear message that rogue traders will not be tolerated."

For advice and information to help combat rogue traders call police on 0845 045 4545 or visit www.hampshire.police.uk.