Police Praise After horror-free Halloween Across Avon & Somerset

Avon and Somerset police have praised the public after Halloween passed without any serious incidents for the third year running.

 

Police provided high visibility patrols along with two weeks of proactive campaigning in the run up to the event, urging schools and shops to have an enjoyable but trouble-free Halloween.

Officers say their efforts paid off with the number of emergency and non-emergency calls dipping well below the 1000 mark across the force area.

Last night (Monday October 31) between 4.30pm and 2am this morning, the force's communications centre received 475  emergency 999 calls, while the number of non emergency calls on the force's new 101 number totalled 844.

This is the lowest number of 999 calls recorded on Halloween for five years and represents a continual reduction year-on-year since 2007.

Of the 999 calls logged, less than one-in-10 calls were Halloween-related incidents.

These were mainly low level anti social behaviour incidents such as egg and flour incidents, inappropriate release of fireworks and other nuisance problems and some minor criminal damage.

There were no arrests made for Halloween-related incidents.

Chief Inspector Yannis Georgiou said: "Once again our pre-planned campaign of working with partner agencies, retailers, vulnerable members of the community and young people paid dividends with another successful All Hallows Eve.

"Our plans under the banner of Operation Relentless – keeping the horror out of Halloween, was led by front-line Safer Stronger Neighbourhood teams, comprising police officers, police community support officers and special constables.

"They joined forces with our partners including neighbourhood watch, retailers, schools and community groups and councils.

"Our aim was to ensure people had an enjoyable time, providing support and reassurance to elderly and vulnerable members of the community, while cracking down on anti social behaviour and nuisance problems, caused by a selfish minority, intent on spoiling the evening's celebrations.

"However there were only minor incidents reported and no arrests for Halloween-related anti social behaviour.

"This coming weekend we will have officers out and about in local communities, patrolling known anti social behaviour hotspot areas, as part of our highly successful Operation Relentless, so that families can experience a safe and enjoyable Bonfire Night."