Ex-police officers have joined forces to protect vulnerable Bromley residents from the cruel tricks of bogus cowboy builders.

The borough’s former boys in blue have pioneered their own DIY service designed to stop people falling victim to dodgy tradesman.

Four retired Metropolitan Police Service officers are available for house maintenance and gardening as part of a network set up by new company Blue Local Handymen.

News Shopper:

Left to right: Handymen Kevin Trump and Russell Shipton

Kevin Trump, of Sidewood Road in New Eltham, retired from the police force two years ago after 30 years service.

The 56-year-old began his career as a bobby on the beat before training as an advanced car driver and later, a firearms officer.

“I was actually refurbishing my own house when I retired and I’ve always been passionate about DIY,” he told News Shopper.

“We’ve all heard stories about contractors running off with someone’s money when they’ve not done the job. It annoys me immensely.”

Mr Trump, whose father was a police officer, said he applied for the DIY job because he found protecting vulnerable people from cowboy builders really appealing.

He said: “Keeping people safe is what we did as police officers, so why stop now?

“Customers are very pleased that we also carry out the smaller maintenance jobs, which most construction companies aren’t interested in doing.”

Mr Trump, who joined the police force in 1982, spent his final years as a police officer training new recruits.

Founder of Blue Local Handymen Nick Orde-Powlett, from Battersea, decided to pilot the service in Bromley before setting up more branches across the UK.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur said he chose the borough for its high number of skilled ex-police.

 

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Blue Local Handymen is looking to recruit more ex-police officers like Russell Shipton pictured here

“Bromley is our most established branch and I have been delighted with the enthusiasm shown by all our handymen,” Mr Orde-Powlett said.

“Frontline officers, who typically retire after 30 years service, still want to play a role in the local community.”

All the police officers are interviewed and security checked before they are recruited.

Following a huge increase in demand over recent weeks, Mr Orde-Powlett is looking to recruit even more retired police officers in Bromley to add to his team.

Find out more by visiting www.trustinblue.com.