Parents and shops asked to stop Halloween tricksters

SHOPKEEPERS and parents in Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary will be asked to help stop anti-social behaviour associated with Halloween.

The Community Safety Partnership in East Devon has sent letters to parents via schools asking children not to throw eggs and flour and to supervise any trick or treat activities, which lead to harassment, alarm and distress in the community.

Shopkeepers are being asked to be on their guard when selling eggs and flour and the Partnership is also asking firework retailers not to sell fireworks to anyone under 18 or to anyone who may misuse them.

Neighbourhood beat managers and PCSOs are delivering the letters and can offer advice on stopping such anti-social behaviour.

Gerry Moore, community safety and anti-social behaviour co-ordinator for East Devon, said: "We have worked with parents, the police and retailers for the last five years at this time of year, and as a result the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour has shown no increase and in some years has actually reduced across East Devon.

"We must continue working together to make everyone in the community feel safe and free from worry about this kind of nuisance behaviour."

Posters are available from local police stations to display asking people not to call with trick or treats.