Staying Safe on Halloween & Bonfire Night

Staying Safe on Halloween & Bonfire Night

RESIDENTS in Carmarthenshire are being urged to have a happy Halloween and not get their fingers burnt on Bonfire Night.

The Community Safety Partnership – as part of the all-Wales Operation Bang – is urging people to have fun but to stay safe and not let celebrations get out of hand.

This time of year is one of the busiest for the police and fire service with parties, fireworks, bonfires and trick-or-treating in the streets.

A number of activities are taking place to cut ghoulish behaviour and help young and old stay safe.

Shops and supermarkets are being asked not to sell eggs and flour to young people in the lead-up to October 31 to help reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour.
Posters have been produced for householders to display in their windows to say whether they welcome trick or treaters. They will be distributed to the public, especially the elderly and vulnerable, and will be available at the council’s customer service centres, police stations and via the council’s website www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Police will be stepping up patrols during the two-week period and confiscating any alcohol, fireworks, eggs and flour from young people. They will also be visiting licensed premises in a bid to stamp out underage drinking and working with the council’s trading standards to clamp down on shops selling fireworks to young people.

Parents are being urged to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing and encourage them to attend organised events such as Halloween discos and public fireworks displays.
Neighbourhood policing teams and police school liaison officers will also be visiting schools to remind youngsters about the effect their behaviour can have on the elderly and vulnerable in the community.

The council’s executive board member for community safety Councillor Pam Palmer said: “While Halloween and Bonfire Night can undoubtedly be a great deal of fun for some, it is often a particularly distressing time of year for our more vulnerable community members, especially the elderly.

“With this in mind we are urging trick or treaters to think carefully about which doors they knock on this Halloween, look out for posters in windows telling them whether they can call or not and please take notice of them.”

This annual initiative has led to a marked reduction in anti-social behaviour incidents during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period with an 18 per cent decrease over a two-year period.

Community Safety Inspector Tony Ward added: “This should be an enjoyable time of year, however neighbourhoods can find themselves plagued by noise, criminal damage to property and general anti-social behaviour.

“The message we are sending out is for trick or treaters not to vandalise anything or throw things like eggs and flour. Not only can this can cause a great deal of damage and misery, but it could be classed as criminal damage or even assault and a night of ‘fun’ could end up in trouble with the police.

“The reckless use of fireworks is a serious issue and used incorrectly can cause injury and fatality. I would urge people, particularly youngsters, to consider others during this period and to stay safe.”

The Community Safety Partnership includes the county council, police, fire and rescue service and other partner organisations working together to make the county a safer place for everyone.

Dyfed-Powys Chief Supt Gwyn Thomas added: “Neighbourhood Policing Teams throughout Dyfed-Powys are talking to young people in schools about how their behaviour can affect others, after all not everyone wants to join in the Halloween celebrations. They will also be reminding them to keep them selves safe if they go out trick or treating and doing joint talks with the Mid Wales and West Fire and Rescue Service regarding bonfire night safety.

“Whilst we do not have a big rise in calls at this time of year some of our residents do worry when trick or treaters knock the door. We do not want people’s enjoyment to get out of hand and cause people to feel threatened in their own home. If this is the case we encourage them to call us on 999 if it is an emergency or on 101.”

Trick or treating advice:

• Always go with an adult
• Only to go to houses where you or your friends know the people and know you are welcome
• Only go to houses displaying the ‘trick or treaters’ welcome poster
• Don’t talk to strangers
• Don’t enter the house always stay on the doorstep

Fireworks safety:

• Always buy fireworks that conform to British Standards. They should have BS 7114 written on the side of the box.
• It is illegal to set off fireworks after 11pm and for anyone under 18 to be in possession of a firework.
• Keep fireworks in a closed box. Follow the instructions on each firework, light at arm’s length, and stand well back,
• Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could still explode.
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
• Always supervise children around fireworks.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
• Do not set off fireworks in a street or public place (unless it is an organised event).