SIX people have been arrested after police were called to numerous reports of door-to-door salesman causing a nuisance in Malmesbury on Tuesday.

The force received a number of calls throughout the day, with people complaining about alleged Nottingham Knockers trying to sell goods in The Street, Hollow Street, St Leonards Row, Dark Lane, and Foundry Road.

Residents reported the perpetrators as when they were unable to flog what they selling, they were rude and abusive to them.

Police carried out many patrols throughout Malmesbury and subsequently made the arrests.

A 45-year-old man from Sherwood and a 26-year-old man from Nottingham were arrested on suspicion of exploitation, under the Modern Slavery legislation.

A 17-year-old boy from Redcar and Cleveland, Yorkshire, and two 15-year-olds from Middlesbrough were arrested on suspicion of selling door-to-door without a pedlar’s licence.

Finally, an 18-year-old from Middlesbrough was arrested on suspicion of selling door-to-door without a pedlar’s licence and a racially-aggravated public order offence.

Inspector Mark Luffman, from Wiltshire North Community Policing Team, said: “We know what a nuisance these type of door-to-door sellers can be, especially for vulnerable people, such as the elderly, who can feel intimidated by their aggressive sales tactics.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who phoned us and I hope this shows that we will take swift action to arrest and detain those engaging in this anti-social and criminal behaviour.”

A minibus was also seized and a quantity of money was taken under the Proceeds of Crime Act. All of them were taken into police custody.

Wiltshire Trading Standards wrote on its Facebook page: “Great work by Malmesbury Police. Our advice is not to buy goods from cold callers as often they are overpriced and of poor quality.

“These sellers, known as Nottingham Knockers, are committing criminal offences if they don’t hold a pedlar’s certificate and fail to leave the correct paperwork.”

Resident Stuart Remmy Causer praised the police for their swift response.

“The police have done a good job and it shows they are working on keeping the town safe,” he said.

Corston resident, Fiona d’Arcy-Kincaid, added: “Given how often these Nottingham Knockers have been around over the past few months, I think it’s great that they’ve been removed from our community, and that the folks doing this are getting a message from the Community Policing Teams that acts like this won’t be tolerated.

“There are lots of older residents who are more vulnerable to this type of thing. This hopefully will give people in our community more confidence in how police deal with these matters.”

To report this call 101.