🎃 Halloween Trick-or-Treating Safety Advice 🎃

🎃 Halloween Trick-or-Treating Safety Advice 🎃

With Halloween taking place this weekend, many children and families will be out enjoying trick-or-treating across our communities. We want everyone to have a fun, safe and enjoyable evening, so please take a few moments to read our safety advice:

👻 For Parents and Carers

Ensure younger children are accompanied by a responsible adult.

Plan your route in advance and stay in well-lit, familiar areas.

Make sure children can be seen by wearing bright clothing or reflective items.

Remind children to stay together with their group and never enter a stranger's home.

Check sweets and treats before they are eaten.

Carry a charged mobile phone in case of emergency.

🎃 For Children

Only visit homes that are welcoming trick-or-treaters.

Stay on paths and use crossings when moving between houses.

Be respectful of people's property and neighbours.

Never accept lifts from strangers or go inside someone else's home.

If something doesn't feel right, tell a parent or trusted adult straight away.

🏠 Respecting Residents

Not everyone celebrates Halloween, and some residents may not wish to receive trick-or-treaters. Please be considerate:

Only knock on doors where there are visible Halloween decorations or signs indicating trick-or-treaters are welcome.

If a house has no decorations, no lights on, or displays a "No Trick or Treaters" notice, please move on and respect their wishes.

Avoid repeated knocking, causing nuisance, or disturbing residents.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Message for Parents of Teenagers

Halloween should be an enjoyable occasion for everyone. Parents and guardians are reminded that they remain responsible for their children's behaviour whilst they are out in the community.

Please speak with your teenagers before they leave home and remind them that behaviour such as throwing eggs, flour, fireworks, or other items at people, vehicles and property is not harmless fun. Such actions can cause distress, injury, criminal damage and significant inconvenience to members of the public.

We would also encourage parents to be aware of what their children are taking out with them and to ensure they are not leaving the house carrying items such as eggs, flour or anything else that may be used to commit anti-social behaviour or criminal offences.

👮 Increased Police Patrols

There will be an increased police presence across the district throughout the Halloween period. Officers will be actively patrolling identified areas and will take robust action where necessary to deal with anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, harassment, disorder, or any other criminality. We want everyone to enjoy Halloween safely, but those who choose to spoil the event for others should expect appropriate police intervention.

📄 No Trick-or-Treaters Window Notice

If you would prefer not to receive trick-or-treaters this Halloween, please download, print and display the attached notice in your window or on your front door. We kindly ask families and children to respect any properties displaying this notice.

Let's all work together to ensure Halloween remains a safe, enjoyable and respectful occasion for everyone in our community.

Have a safe and happy Halloween! 🎃👻

Attachments

No Trick or Treat 2021 A5.pdf

Reply to this message

Message Sent By
Jez Chittim
(Kent Police, Police Constable, Swale Neighbourhood Policing Team)