Kent Police have given the following advice on Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations
Halloween
Trick or treating
We hope you all have a good Halloween weekend but it’s important to remember that not everyone enjoys it – if someone is displaying a ‘no trick or treat’ sign, please respect their wishes and don’t knock at their door.
If you have elderly neighbours, friends or family make sure they know they don’t have to open the door to anyone they don’t know or aren’t expecting to help them feel safe.
It’s important everyone knows that most trick or treaters are simply getting involved in the celebrations and will be friendly, but please share our guidance on bogus callers with anyone who may have concerns, www.kent.police.uk/advice/bogus-callers-and-rogue-traders/.
Print and display a Kent Police poster to help trick or treaters know where to visit this Halloween:
- Say ‘No to trick or treaters’, www.kent.police.uk/getmedia/69190734-5f97-483e-8066-c8fba4fa21fc/trick_or_treat_poster_no.pdf
- Say ‘Yes to trick or treaters’, www.kent.police.uk/getmedia/7f38b0b9-e3ec-462e-bf1f-e04c3103ce86/trick_or_treat_poster_yes.pdf
Guidance for parents:
- Never let young children go trick or treating on their own and make sure they only visit people known to your family.
- Make sure teenagers understand not to frighten people or use flour or eggs.
- Advise young trick or treaters to stay in a group and never go into the home of someone they don’t know.
Bonfire Night
Top tips to celebrate safely
- Fireworks can hurt and frighten people and animals – always follow the firework code, www.saferfireworks.com/.
- Always supervise children around fireworks and never give sparklers to a child under 5.
- It’s safer to go to an organised display – if you’re aged 18 or over and still want to buy your own fireworks, only buy those marked BS 7114:1988 from a reputable retailer.
Know the law
It’s an offence to:
- sell adult fireworks to anyone under 18
- have adult fireworks in a public place if you are under 18
- have fireworks meant for a professional display
- let off fireworks after 11pm and before 7am, except on Bonfire Night (allowed up to midnight), New Year’s Eve, Diwali and the Chinese New Year (all allowed up to 1am).
You can also be fined up to £5,000 and imprisoned for up to 6 months for selling or using fireworks illegally. You could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90.
For more details on fireworks at the law visit www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law, www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law.
Kent Police
Additional safety information:
Halloween safety tips, https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2016/10/18/rospa-haloween-safety-tips/,
Children’s costumes, https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2016/10/22/is-your-costume-safe/