Police warn ‘trick or treat’ responsibly

WITH Halloween fast approaching, on Saturday, October 31, Thames Valley Police is reminding people to make sure they spend their time trick-or-treating responsibly and have issued advise for householders.

Many residents enjoy Halloween and view it as harmless fun, but for others it can be distressing receiving visits from unexpected callers, particularly for the elderly and those who live alone.

Neighbourhood police teams in the Thames Valley will be undertaking high-visibility patrols over the Halloween period to deal with any anti-social behaviour. They also work with schools and parents to reduce the incidents of nuisance and criminal damage that can happen at this time of year.

Those who do not want to be visited by trick-or-treaters can download and print a ‘No trick-or-treat’ flyer from the Thames Valley Police website and display it in a window or visit their local station to pick up a copy.

Parents should be reminded that if they or their children see this flyer displayed, they should move on to the next house. Most people will have a pumpkin or Halloween decorations on display to welcome callers.

TVP is also encouraging people to watch the ‘Click Your Trick’  film which highlights the consequences of anti-social behaviour. The film features a teenager who was convicted of arson after he and his friend put a firework through a family home as a prank. The prank went horribly wrong with the firework setting the house on fire. Luckily nobody was seriously injured.

Supt Richard James from Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood Policing said: “This is not about stopping responsible Halloween fun but preventing anti-social behaviour linked to trick or treating. One person’s ‘trick’ can be a disturbing experience to the person on the receiving end. Not only that but one reckless trick and you could end up with a criminal record.”

Keith Williams from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service community safety team, said: “We don’t want to stop people enjoying Halloween, but we do want them to celebrate safely. There is nothing more terrifying than having a fire at home or seeing your clothes catch fire.

“Just follow this safety advice for a safer Halloween: never make costumes from flammable materials, always check costumes and masks are labelled as flame resistant, keep candles away from children and ensure they are extinguished at night, and do not overload electricity sockets with lights. Better still, use LED candles. ” 

If you are trick-or-treating this year:
Don’t knock where you see a ‘No Trick-or-Treat’ poster.
Be visible and stick to well-lit streets.
Although Halloween is meant to be spooky, be careful not to frighten people.
Plan your trick-or-treat route before you go and let an adult know where you’ll be going and what time you will be back.
Go with an adult when possible.
If at any point you do feel nervous or unsafe:
Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there. Use your spy-hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you do decide to open your door.
Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.
If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your coordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween. If you are a coordinator, please identify people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.
Thames Valley Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.

To report anti-social behaviour please call the 24 hour non-emergency number 101. If it is a crime in progress, call 999 immediately.