With just over two weeks to go until Halloween, Chiltern Community Safety Partnership is encouraging residents to display posters in their front windows at Halloween to show whether or not they welcome visits from trick or treaters. The posters can be picked up from various locations across the district, including Chiltern District Council and Amersham and Chesham Police Stations. You can download one here: http://bit.ly/O0cEeH.

If you don’t have access to a printer and would like to request some posters for yourself or your Neighbourhood Watch scheme please contact 01494 732089. These posters are a simple but effective way to prevent the distress that unexpected callers can cause for vulnerable members of the community, while making sure that those who want to take part can enjoy all the tricks and treats they like.

If you are planning to go trick or treating, the advice is to keep an eye out for the posters and make sure you behave considerately. Tricks like throwing eggs, graffiti, or other vandalism can be treated as criminal damage and the police will prosecute anyone found breaking the law. There will be extra police resources on duty during the Halloween period to ensure that inappropriate behaviour is challenged and resolved. Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated at any time of year.

If you are concerned about Halloween, the advice to follow 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 by your telephone, just 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.

Anyone affected by the few 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, call 999.