Preventing Unwanted Halloween Knocks In The Night

THAMES Valley Police Force is aiming to cut down the number of ?Horrible happenings? on Halloween night with a publicity campaign.

A ?ghoulish? poster will be distributed to police stations, libraries and community centres across the force area.

It will show anyone out on Halloween night which houses will not answer a knock on the door.

Thames Valley Police is asking that anyone displaying a ?Sorry, no trick or treat here? sign should have their privacy respected, and festive callers should leave them alone.

The initiative, which has been successful in previous years, aims to reduce fear among elderly and vulnerable households.

It can also make Halloween more enjoyable and safer for young trick or treaters by making it easier and more obvious for them to see where they will not be welcome.

Parents can get some hints and tips on how to make the evening as safe as possible for their children by downloading a special Halloween leaflet (see below).

Steve Smith, Force Crime Reduction Manager for Thames Valley Police, said: ?The idea behind the campaign is to make Halloween as enjoyable as possible for those who want to celebrate the occasion.

?We don?t want to stop anyone from enjoying themselves, but we do want to try, as far as possible, to reduce incidence of behaviour that may leave people frightened, or which puts people in danger or at a disadvantage.

The campaign has been run by both the Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police Force, and is part of a new system of collaboration between the two forces.

To get a download a copy of the poster and leaflet, log on to www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reduction/saferhomes/safehome/safe6.htm or visit your local police station.