Published: Friday 25th October 2019 | 9.16am
Cannock Chase Council is working closely with Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and local outreach workers to help young people stay safe and keep out of trouble this Halloween and Bonfire.
Halloween can be harmless fun but some members of the community can become distressed by unexpected trick or treaters. Part of a wider ‘Take Care and Be Aware’ initiative, young people are being encouraged to ‘Think – Be Aware Who You Scare’ and to follow some simple do’s and don’ts this Halloween. These can be found on Cannock Chase Council’s website.
PCSOs and Police Cadets from the Cannock Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) will be distributing glow in the dark ‘No Trick or Treat’ cards from Friday 25 October. Residents can display these cards in their windows if they don’t wish to be disturbed by trick or treaters. These cards will also be available to collect from Council Offices, police stations, community fire stations and libraries from Monday 28 October.
The campaign aims to encourage young people to be respectful of other people in the community and not to get involved in anti-social behaviour.
Cannock District Local Policing Team (LPT) will be running Operation Sparkler from 25 October and carrying out high visibility patrols in anti-social behaviour hotspots and responding to reports of anti-social behaviour.
A simple list of do’s and don’ts around firework safety are also available to download from the Council’s website.
Councillor Carl Bennett, Portfolio Leader for Crime and Partnerships, said: “The ‘Take Care and Be Aware’ initiative demonstrates how partners are working together and are committed to making our neighbourhoods safe and enjoyable for everyone. This is a reminder to young people that Halloween can appear harmless fun, but it can sometimes scare and intimidate our elderly and vulnerable residents.
“Fireworks also cause great distress for animals and the elderly, so please be considerate when setting off fireworks and follow the Firework Code.
“With safety our main concern, we are urging parents to ensure their children are properly supervised during both Halloween and Bonfire.”
Sgt Mark Burslem, Deputy Commander at Staffordshire Police, said: “Staffordshire Police will be running Operation Sparkler from Friday 25 October until Sunday 10 November. Cannock NPT will be deploying additional patrols during this period to patrol hotspot areas and proactively deal with anti-social behaviour.
“Cannock NPT will be working closely with our partners at Cannock Chase Council to identify perpetrators and deal with them accordingly. We would encourage people to act responsibly and safely during this period respecting their community. Staffordshire Police can be contacted to report incidents by calling 101 or via the Staffordshire Police website.”
A special Firework’s Hotline has been set up to answer any questions that residents have about Bonfire Night and safety associated with fireworks. The number to call is 01785 277 855. Alternatively, visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/takecare for more information.