Crime Reduction
Halloween
Halloween is traditionally a time of fun. Each year
however, Essex Police deals with a number of Halloween-related incidents
involving criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.
Calls, tricks or pranks may be harmless fun to some
people but can cause real distress to others. Behaviour such as throwing
eggs or flour can also quickly cross the line from being anti-social into
causing criminal damage.
We would urge anyone who is planning on going out trick
or treating to act sensibly and not cause upset to other members of the
community, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Equally important is
the necessity for the trick or treater's to stay safe themselves. By following
a few guidelines, we can ensure Halloween is safe and trouble-free for
everyone
Guidance for parents
Parents or responsible adults should accompany children
on Halloween trick or treat nights to make sure that they stay safe.
Please identity neighbours who are willing to have trick
or treat calls. Make your neighbours aware of what time you expect to
call at their house. Discuss with these neighbours what treats are appropriate.
Useful tips:
If money is given, identify a charity for this to be
donated to.
Discuss with your children what 'tricks' are acceptable.
Discourage older children (teenagers) from trick or
treating it is an activity for young children. If they are old enough
to trick or treat on their own, then they are too old to do it.
Guidance for young people
- Don't disturb someone displaying a notice that says
'no trick or treat.'
- Always take an adult with you or tell an adult where
you are going.
- Never go out on your own always go out with family,
friends, or a responsible adult.
- Never knock on a stranger's door. Only go to people
you know
- Never accept an invitation to go into a house.
- If someone says 'no thank you' or doesn't open the
door to you, they are probably frightened. Please walk away and don't
be a nuisance to them.
- Always keep to well-lit areas. Avoid dark and lonely
places.
- Remember Road safety, wear bright clothing
- Keep your tricks within the law! Anything that results
in damage is an offence and will be dealt with as such.
- Unless pre-arranged, do not visit elderly members
of the community. Be careful not to frighten vulnerable people
Report suspicious Halloween activity
Call 101 to report any suspicious activity during Halloween
or to speak to your local Neighbourhood Policing team. This is the 24-hour
Essex Police non-emergency number.
In an emergency, call 999. It is an emergency when:
a crime is being committed, there is a risk of injury, or a risk of serious
damage to property.
There will be extra police patrols over the Halloween
and Bonfire night period. These patrols will target people who cause criminal
damage and anti-social behaviour.
Please feel free to download any of the posters below
for your own use:
KS2
Halloween
KS3
Halloween
HAL_no_trick_or_treaters
HAL_
HALLOWEEN poster
Firework Safety
Fireworks night is full of excitement and fun but also
brings with it great risk. But by taking a few simple precautions you
can make sure that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable evening.
Between 2000 and 2005 there were 6,673 people injured
by fireworks, with the highest number of those injuries occurring at people
s homes.
Most accidents occur at private firework parties which
have become more popular in recent years, but it is easy to make sure
that your display stays as safe as possible.
Divisional Officer Terry Povey, ECFRS Community Safety,
said: Firstly take some care setting up for your display and make sure
that you have equipped yourselves with a couple of buckets of water, a
bucket of soft earth to put spent fireworks in, a torch to read instructions
by and a slow burning firework lighter to light the touch papers with.
It's important to take great care when making and lighting
a bonfire, they can easily spread out of control and have the potential
to cause great harm to those near them unless they are properly built
and properly looked after.
Never use petrol, or any kind of accelerant, to light
or fuel a fire. Always ensure that the fire is a safe distance from your
home or anything else it could set light to, for example sheds or a fences.
Garden fires should only be made up of garden refuse
and no one should burn anything other than natural garden products. Plastic
and rubber burn in an unpredictable way and create extremely noxious fumes
and are not suitable for residential areas.
Make sure that all fireworks have passed the British
Safety Standards and are set off a safe distance from all spectators,
buildings, sheds and fences. People should only light one firework at
a time and
remember do not return to a firework that hasn t gone off because it
could yet go up.
It is also important to stay safe with sparklers, they
should never be given to a child under five years old, must always be
held at arms length and in a gloved hand. Once they have gone out put
sparklers
in bucket of water or sand. Sparklers burn five times hotter than cooking
oil and must be treated with care.
Make sure all animals are kept indoors and that young
children are under constant adult supervision.
Always follow the fireworks code and you won' t go too
far wrong, it is a few simple rules all of which are just common sense
really.
If you follow these simple rules then you can have a
safe and enjoyable November 5 without having to call us in to get you
out of trouble.
The Firework Code
- Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114.
- Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
- Keep fireworks in a closed non-flammable box.
- Follow the instructions on each firework.
- Light them at arm's length, using a taper.
- 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.
- Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
- Never give sparklers to a child under five.
- Keep pets indoors.
- Don't set off noisy fireworks late at night and never
after 11pm.
Bogus Callers
Some burglars try to trick their way in to peoples homes.
They may say they
are from the water, gas or electricity company or the local council. Or,
they may
ask for a glass of water, or to wash their hands or claim to have lost
a pet.
In fact, they’ll use any story they can to get in.
They can be young (even children) or old, male or female,
and might work alone or in teams. They often target the elderly and can
be convincing, persuasive and produce
false identity cards in their attempt to gain entry to your home.
By using the advice given below you can protect yourself
and vulnerable
members of your family from bogus callers or distraction burglars by:
Lock – keep your doors and windows
locked, even when you’re at home.
Stop – are you expecting anyone, do they have an
appointment? Make sure
your back door is locked – distraction burglars often work in pairs
with the other
sneaking in the back whilst you’re at the front door.
Chain – put the door bar or chain
on before you open the door.
Check – check their identity
carefully. Ask for an ID card.
Close the door and check using a phone number from the
phone book or a
relevant bill, not the phone number on the ID card.
If in doubt, keep them out, particularly if you’re
on your own. Ask them to make an
appointment or come back later when someone else is around. Genuine callers
won’t mind. If you are suspicious report the incident promptly
to police – dial 999 or telephone Essex Police
on 0300 333 4444
Be ready to give as many details as you can about the
callers
description(s) together with any details you may have about vehicles they
are using, in particular registration numbers.
Remember, the earlier police are notified that bogus
callers or distraction
burglars are working in an area, the quicker they can investigate.
TOP
Burglaries
Most burglaries are carried out by opportunist
thieves.
In two out of 10 burglaries they don’t even have
to use force – they get in through an open door or window. Most
burglars do not want to draw attention to themselves so they will try
and get into the house, garage or shed without being seen or heard.
You can reduce the likelihood of being burgled by taking
the following
basic steps:
Examine all doors, ensure they are fitted with 5 lever
mortise deadlocks (British Standard Kitemark BS3621).
Ensure windows are fitted with locking handles or additional
locks, but know
where keys are in case of fire.
Consider investing in a small secured safe that can
house items of jewellery,
personal documents, bank cards and cash.
Take photographs of valuable and sentimental items and
have them
security marked as this will assist in offenders being identified and
property
being returned to you. Record and retain serial and model numbers of property.
Keep your doors locked when you’re at home, even
when popping out to
the garden or to visit a neighbour.
Never leave house or car keys where they can be seen
from a window or
letterbox. This affords the burglar easy access to your home or car. Keep
them out of sight and in a safe place.
Ensure your home looks occupied – use time switches
to turn on lights, radios and other appliances when you’re out.
Cancel milk, newspaper and other known deliveries.
Consider installing a burglar alarm – but obtain
professional advice beforehand.
Prevent intruders getting to the back and sides of your
home by installing strong fencing or gates.
Garages and sheds are often full of expensive tools,
which are ideal for breaking into the rest of the house.
Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially
if it has a connecting door to your home.
Fit strong padlocks to shed and garage doors, and make
sure that the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in.
Visibly and permanently security mark tools, bicycles,
garden machinery
and other property.
Secure tools, mowers and other machinery to the wall
or floor with a high security chain fixed to a sturdy anchor point, or
within a locked steel box.
Consider installing security lighting which can act as a deterrent during
the hours of darkness.
If you witness a burglary or you see anyone acting suspiciously
report it
promptly to police – dial 999 or telephone Essex
Police on 0300 333 4444.
Further detailed information on home security is available
here:
Home
Office Crime Prevention Information
or via the Tendring Crime Prevention Officer –
David Gilles– 01255 254020
Visit the following site for more information on home
protection:
Home
Protection Information
For information on how to protect your garden view our
Rich
Pickings information leaflet.
TOP
Vehicle Crime
Vehice crime can be distressing, annoying and cause
a lot of inconvenience, as well as leaving you out of pocket. That’s
why security features should be as important as any other feature. It
is often opportunistic, but there are easy ways to outsmart the thief
by following the tips below:
- Lock all doors and close all windows (including the
sunroof) every time you leave your car unattended.
- Don’t leave anything on display in your car.
Even an old coat is temptation for someone to ‘smash and grab.’
- Lock possession in your car boot is you have to leave
them in your car.
- Have an electronic immobiliser professionally fitted
or use a good quality mechanical immobiliser such as a steering wheel
lock.
- Fit locking wheel nuts.
- Have your car’s registration number etched
onto all glass surfaces.
- Try to look for a public car park which is part of
the police ‘Safer Parking Scheme’. Car parks that meet the
standards are entitled to display the ‘Park Mark® sign.
- Get a combined alarm and immobiliser
professionally fitted.
- A good disc lock is useful, but U-locks are better.
Always try to secure your motorbike or scooter to something which is
solid and cannot be moved.
- Put security markings on as many parts of your motorbike
or scooter as possible.
- Ground anchors are good for protecting your machine
at home and if you have a garage use it and keep it locked.
TOP
Bicycles
- When buying a bike budget for security and take out
insurance, either by extending your home contents policy or through
a separate one.
- At home, keep your bike in a secure garage or shed
and keep the door locked.
- When parking your bike, lock it to an immovable object
like a bike rack or ground anchor. Lock both the wheels and the frame
together and take smaller parts like the lights with you.
- Look for security products that have been tested
against attack and invest in a quality lock.
- Hardened steel D-shaped locks are recommended as
the minimum standard.
- Security mark the bike.
TOP
|
