Birmingham City Council has warned local residents to be aware after neighbouring authorities reported bogus doorstep callers pretending to be Census officials in order to gain access to homes. The call comes ahead of next month’s scheduled door-to-door visits to all households which fail to return completed Census questionnaires from March 27^th onwards.

Trading Standards officials are also asking the public to follow a few simple principles in order to ensure they remain safe, whilst also fulfilling their legal obligation to complete a Census return.

Cllr Neil Eustace, chair of the city’s Public Protection Committee, commented: “When the door step visits begin there will be hundreds of perfectly legitimate officials knocking on doors across the city in order to ensure the Census is completed as fully as possible by anyone who has failed to take part so far.

“We urge all citizens, and especially more vulnerable groups, to take extra care and double check for identification before letting Census officials into their homes.

“Of course the best way to avoid any doubt is to return the Census questionnaire on or as soon after March 27^th as possible, meaning there will be no reason for a legitimate official to call at your property to chase up the information.”

The majority of door step visits will not begin until after April 6th. For more information, or if anyone is concerned and wants to check the authenticity of a person at their door, contact the Census helpline on 0300 02 01 101.