Happy Halloween advice (Status: Press release)

HALLOWEEN is nearly here and can be a great time for children to get dressed up, have parties and play trick or treat.
The majority of trick or treaters are harmless, supervised by adults, and will not cause any problems if residents do not wish to take part.
However, each year a few people throw eggs or flour at houses and there in an increase of anti-social behaviour during the evening. This can be distressing for elderly of vulnerable people.

Extra officers will be patrolling the area throughout the evening on October 31, to ensure that the evening can be enjoyed by everyone.

In advance of Halloween, police are also urging shopkeepers not to sell eggs or flour to youngsters in the run up to the day.

Crime Reduction Adviser, Julia Wheeler, said: ?Halloween is a great time for children, youths and some adults to dress up and go out into the night to knock on doors to play ?Trick or Treat?. The majority of your callers will be harmless and will be happy even if you say no thank you.

?We would like to make sure that everyone has a happy and safe Halloween and I would like to offer the following tips to avoid being tricked this Halloween:

? If you don?t want to be disturbed, display a Thames Valley Police poster that says ?no trick or treat? available from local police stations, libraries, town and parish council offices or download it from www.thamesvalley.police.uk
? Don?t open your door if you are unsure who is there. Use your spy hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you decide to open your door
? Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour to hand by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them
? If you feel threatened or vulnerable call the police
? If you are in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme let your co-ordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween. Likewise, if you are a co-ordinator you can identify people within your scheme that may be vulnerable, and offer them some reassurance
? In an emergency phone the police on 999.

We also recommend that children out trick or treating should follow these safety guidelines:
? Always take an adult with you or tell an adult where you are going
? Never knock on a stranger?s door
? Never go out on your own; always go with friends or family
? If someone says no thank you or doesn?t open the door to you they are probably frightened, so walk away and don?t be a nuisance to them
? Don?t disturb someone displaying a notice that says ?no trick or treat?
? Never accept an invitation to go into house
? Avoid dark and lonely places.

?Police across the county are working in partnership with local shop keepers and schools to reduce the number of anti-social behaviour related incidents at this time of year.

?Please help us to help others by not sending your children along to the local shops to buy items, like eggs and flour, as these may cause a nuisance to others over Halloween, and ensure they don?t take these items out of the house. Some shops will be displaying posters this year stating that they reserve the right not to serve anyone under the age of 16 with such items.

?Always remember that those intent on going out at Halloween to throw eggs and other substances at houses and cars could be committing an act of criminal damage and this is an arrestable offence.?