Residents urged to use flyers to warn trick or treaters

Treacle logo

Residents across Greater Manchester are being advised to display Halloween flyers in their homes to let trick or treaters know if they are welcome or not.

The flyers have been printed as part of the annual Treacle campaign, which highlights the consequences of antisocial behaviour, criminal damage and the misuse of fireworks around Halloween and Bonfire Night.

During this period, seasonal high spirits can sometimes cross the line and be seen as antisocial or even intimidating, especially by elderly or vulnerable people.

As part of Treacle, police will be running high-visibility patrols to reassure residents and deter potential troublemakers, and to combat underage drinking they will be confiscating alcohol, carrying out test purchasing at licensed premises and prosecuting adults who buy alcohol for young people.

Another part of the campaign sees police visiting schools and community venues to remind young people that antisocial behaviour, like throwing flour and eggs, criminal damage, such as setting bins on fire, and misuse of fireworks will not be tolerated during the half-term holiday.

Police and fire officers will also be clamping down on those who deliberately start fires or make hoax calls to the emergency services, and penalties could include an £80 fine, arrest and a criminal record. Civil penalties that could be enforced range from acceptable behaviour contracts and antisocial behaviour orders to tenancy enforcement actions and evictions.

One of the overriding aims of Treacle is to ensure that safety information is easily available to the public, and this can be obtained from the website safe4autumn.com

The Halloween flyer can be downloaded from the site, and it also features details of what you should expect to see at a safe bonfire event, as well as a hard-hitting video which graphically illustrates the tragic consequences of playing with fireworks and behaving recklessly around fire.

There are also links to council websites to find out what events are happening locally, and details on how under 16s can enter a competition to win an iPad.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police said: “Halloween and Bonfire Night are nearly upon us – occasions where traditionally families get together to enjoy the fun and festivities.

"Unfortunately, not everyone respects the traditions of these evenings, and often we see people's fun being spoiled by the actions of a few who commit acts of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the need to behave responsibly and respect others at this time of year, and to understand the consequences of irresponsible behaviour for themselves and others.

“If behaviour gets out of hand and causes distress to anyone then we will take firm action, and I would urge people to report any antisocial behaviour to police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, as we treat all incidents seriously. Finally, people should attend organised bonfire events that have been properly safety-checked wherever possible, as this will help to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.”

Download