Halloween, Bonfire Night and Diwali

---

Safer Neighbourhoods Teams' and Council code of conduct

While Halloween can undoubtedly be a great deal of fun, it can also be a particularly distressing time of year for some of the more vulnerable members of our communities - especially the elderly.

With this in mind, local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are urging trick or treaters to think carefully about which doors they knock on this Halloween.

If you do decide to go trick or treating, please respect the wishes of any household displaying a 'No Trick or Treat' poster.

When trick or treating you should also stay as safe as possible by following the

Halloween Code :

• Always go trick or treating with an adult
• Only go to houses where you or your friends know the residents
• Don't knock on doors where there is a 'No Trick or Treat' sign
• Stay in areas that are well lit with street lights - take a torch with you just in case
• Stay with your friends - don't split into smaller groups unless an adult goes with you
• Don't talk to strangers on the street
• Don't enter any house - stay on the doorstep
• Be careful not to frighten vulnerable people, especially the elderly
• Be visible
• Look carefully before crossing the road, even if you're part of a group.
• Don't vandalise anything or throw things like eggs and flour. This can cause a great deal of damage and misery. What's more it can be classed as criminal damage, or even assault, and a night of 'fun' could end up with you in trouble with the police.

If you want to download your own copy of the "No Trick or Treat" sign, it is available in pdf format on this link. Copies of the sign are also available in the front office at Chiswick Police Station.

Diwali and Guy Fawkes :

As Diwali, and Guy Fawkes Night approach Ealing Council is taking steps to ensure celebrations are memorable for all the right reasons.

Every year reports of crime and anti-social behaviour soar during festival season. Now Ealing Council has joined forces with the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade to mount a campaign to cut crime and make the borough safer.

As part of the operation Council officers will be carrying out spot checks on shops to ensure fireworks are stored properly and meet British Safety Standards. There will also be undercover test purchasing operations to catch out traders selling fireworks illegally to children.

Under national legislation it is an offence to set off fireworks

                  - after midnight on Guy Fawkes Night

                  - after 1am on Diwali, New Years Eve and Chinese New Year

                  - after 11pm any other day of the year

The Council’s party patrol will be out in force through out the festivities to ensure celebrations don’t get out of hand and to remind people not to break fireworks curfews.

Burglary rates often rise as the clocks go back and the nights draw in, so people are being reminded to set timer switches to turn lights on if they are out and about in the evening. The Council’s Community Safety Team will be holding events at locations across the borough to give people information about protecting their home and staying safe. Victims of residential burglary will continue to be referred to the Council’s scheme and be offered free security improvements to secure their home. Vulnerable people are also being offered home visits to provide security advice and reassurance over this period.

Councillor Vlod Barchuk, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “This time of year can be intimidating for some residents because of a few irresponsible people. As part of our priority of making Ealing safer, this campaign is aimed to clampdown on anyone who is involved in making this time of year dangerous and miserable for others.

“As the nights draw in and the clocks go back this weekend, it’s important that residents are reminded to protect their homes and valuables from opportunist burglars. This campaign will help residents get advice and some practical suggestions for changes to be made to their homes to make them safer.”

Community and Partnership Superintendent Ian Jenkins of Ealing Borough Police said: “Police officers will be working in joint operations with council teams across the borough. There are a number of events planned over the next two months focussing on educating young people and helping vulnerable residents make their homes more secure. We will be taking enforcement action against anyone caught using the autumn celebrations as an opportunity to profit from selling dangerous or illegal goods and behaving in an anti-social manner.”

For more information about the operation visit www.ealing.gov.uk

 

 

October 24, 2008