Wiltshire Police offer safety advice for a spook-tacular Halloween

If you're out and about this 'spooky season' - trick or treaters are being encouraged by Wiltshire Police to be safe and respect others.

They're offering six 'top tops' to youngsters - and say if you ever feel nervous or unsafe, make sure you've got your phone on you - and someone knows where you are.

During the Halloween and Bonfire Night period, Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) across the force area will be undertaking high visibility patrols to help prevent anti-social behaviour. 

If you or someone you know is ‘trick or treating’ this Halloween, follow these six simple top tips: 

• Always be accompanied by a trusted adult when you are trick or treating
• You should only go to houses of people that you know and who are happy for you to call
• Stay safe, keep to places that you know and are well lit. Do not take short cuts through gardens, alleyways or parks
• Watch out for traffic
• If you're wearing a mask, make sure that you can see where you are going and are aware of your surroundings
• Carry a torch and a fully charged mobile phone (if you have one).       

Think about which doors you knock on this Halloween

Jenn Holton, the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit lead, said: "Trick or treaters should take care and think carefully about which doors they knock on, particularly if there are elderly people or people living on their own in their area.

“The most important message is that we want people to enjoy the events happening across the County, in particular the children and young people, by keeping themselves safe and making sure they do not cause any problems in their communities.” 

If at any point you do feel nervous or unsafe: 

• Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there
• Have a contact number of a close relative, friend or good neighbour by your home telephone, or stored in your mobile phone
• If you are part of a local Watch scheme, let your coordinator know that you could be on your own at Halloween

Wiltshire Police ‘No trick or treat here’ posters are available for display if you don’t want trick or treaters at your door this Halloween.

You can download the posters from the Wiltshire Police website.

Bonfire Night

When Halloween ends, Bonfire Night celebrations begin - and police are also offering their advice about how to negotiate this time of year.

For Bonfire Night and the adjoining weekend, everyone should be able to enjoy fireworks safely, whether at an organised display or in their back garden. You’ll find out the law around using fireworks as well as how to stay safe, and report those using fireworks in a dangerous or threatening way here.

For more safety advice on fireworks, check out the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) website.

You're also urged to 'prepare your pets' - which you can check out via the RSPCA.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.