Having fun but staying safe this Halloween

Community, Health and Social Care

Halloween is a night of innocent fun for many youngsters, but for elderly or vulnerable residents it can sometimes be distressing.

To help make the 31 October trick or treat celebration enjoyable for everyone, Buckinghamshire Council and Thames Valley Police are encouraging residents who do not want Halloween callers knocking on their door to display a poster in their front windows.

The poster indicates that trick or treaters should not call at that property. The poster can be downloaded from: https://buckinghamshire-gov-uk.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Halloween_2021.pdf

Residents without access to a printer can request a poster by calling 01494 586535.

Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

“I hope families enjoy a frightfully fabulous Halloween, but I would ask that people planning to go trick or treating look out for the posters and be considerate of others.

“Anyone affected by the very small minority of individuals who use trick or treating as an excuse to commit antisocial behaviour can report it to Thames Valley Police on 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, please call 999.”

For residents who are concerned about Halloween, the advice is:

  • Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there. Use your spy hole or look out of a window and use your door chain if you do decide to open your door.
  • Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour to hand in case you need to phone them.
  • If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your coordinator know you will be on your own at Halloween. If you are a coordinator, please identity people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.

There are a range of fun Halloween events happening across the county. Details of these can be found at: www.visitbuckinghamshire.org/events