Wiltshire Police stepping up patrols over Halloween weekend
Dedicated teams of PCSOs are going to be building on their proactive Covid work.
Officers from Wiltshire Police will be doing extra patrols this Saturday (31st Oct) and Sunday (1st Nov) to make sure people are still sticking with the new restrictions.
They want to make sure that anyone celebrating Halloween is doing so in a safe manner.
Alongside additional police staff and licensing colleagues at Wiltshire Council, the PCSOs will be responding to concerns from the public and providing a visible presence to remind people about the importance of the restrictions.
Deputy Chief Constable, Paul Mills, said:
"We have been working hard to proactively engage with the public, and across the county have dedicated teams of ten PCSOs allocated to identifying any potential breaches of the regulations, so we can deal with them swiftly but proportionately.
Overall we can see that most people have adapted to this "new normal" and understand that the restrictions are in place to protect us all.
As we approach the Halloween weekend, we will have additional dedicated resources in place to proactively patrol in our communities. We are also working very closely with our partners, including both local authorities, to ensure we are engaging with businesses, particularly those linked to the night-time economy to ensure that people can socialise safely if they wish to do so.
The threat from Covid-19 remains very real in our communities and I would encourage everyone to continue to play their part in helping to stop the spread of the virus."
SAFETY ADVICE
Wiltshire Police want to ensure that anyone wanting to get into the Halloween spirit is being safe.
So they have issued the following advice:
- Remember the rule of six - please do not host or attend large parties indoors or outdoors, it is safer to celebrate at home with your family
- Please avoid trick or treating where treats are handed out and children go door-to-door
- A Halloween mask is not a substitute for a face covering
- Remember to wash your hands, cover your face and make space - social distancing remains important so stay 2m apart
- If you have tested positive for Covid-19, are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 then you must self-isolate
The force, along with Wiltshire Council and Hampshire County Council, are asking people to avoid trick or treating this year.
They are worried that children going door to door could spread the virus.