POLICE chiefs are encouraging young people and their families to help keep communities safe over the Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night period.

Merseyside Police is warning anyone who commits incidents of anti-social behaviour they can expect a swift response.

Extra officers will be out on the streets across Merseyside over the Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night period to ensure that people can enjoy the festivities in their area safely, while dealing with the minority who are intent on causing trouble.

Officers are asking parents to help keep communities safe by taking responsibility for their children’s whereabouts and to be mindful of any neighbours who may be elderly or vulnerable and might feel frightened or intimidated.

Chief Superintendent Julie Cooke said: “This is a fun time of year for everyone across our communities on Merseyside and the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour during the same period last year was down on the previous year.

“However, our message during this period is simple – anti-social behaviour throughout this period will not be tolerated and anyone caught committing this type of offence will be dealt with firmly and robustly. No one should have to suffer being the victim of anti-social behaviour and I would like to reassure everyone that there will be extra high-visibility patrols during this time.”

Shopkeepers are also being urged not to sell any items that can be misused to cause damage, such as eggs, flour or cans of shaving foam.

Young people are reminded to take personal responsibility for their actions and not to cause people undue concerns.

The force has been involved in a multi-agency operation to provide a whole range of activities across Merseyside, organise events and provide public reassurance.

Information about these events is available on the Merseyside Police and council websites.

Chief Supt Cooke added: "I would like to remind people who are out ‘trick or treating’ that they should remember throwing eggs or flour at buildings, writing graffiti or any other acts of vandalism is regarded as criminal damage.

“Anyone caught committing these offences will be dealt with accordingly. I would like to stress that it is only a small minority of people who cause problems during this time but there are lots of organised events and activities going on across the region for people to enjoy.”

Wirral Council is also joining the fight against anti-social behaviour this Hallowe’en and has launched a new campaign across Wallasey to tackle criminal damage by young people.

Last year the area covered by Wallasey Constituency Committee - which includes New Brighton, Leasowe, Moreton, Liscard, Saughall Massie, Poulton, Egremont, Seacombe and Wallasey - saw an increase in the number of reported incidents of criminal damage during the bonfire period.

A further 17 incidents were reported in 2013 than during the same period in 2012.

This was despite a comprehensive programme of multi-agency activity including preventative work in schools, visits to retailers, bonfire and flammable materials removal, diversionary activities for young people and community engagement.

Now Wallasey Constituency Committee is using Public Health Outcomes funding to support a new behaviour change campaign aimed at revealing the impact of criminal damage on communities. 

This is with the aim of reducing the number of young people who commit criminal damage and ultimately end up in the criminal justice system.

Cllr Rob Gregson, chair of Wallasey Constituency Committee said: “Achieving behaviour change is one of those really knotty problems which can take a long time and a great deal of resource.

“Hopefully, by working through activities which go into the motivations and impacts of criminal damage we will achieve a reduction. Halloween and Bonfire Night are meant to be fun, but some of the anti-social activities can have a debilitating effect on communities.”

Special resource packs have been produced for work with young people, which include activities, presentations, scenarios and project work focused upon:

  • Types of vandalism and how it can negatively affect property owners, businesses and residents.
  • What leads young people to commit criminal damage.
     
  • The financial cost of criminal damage to individuals and communities.
     
  • Potential penalties that perpetrators should expect if they are caught.
     
  • The fear and anxiety that criminal damage can cause to communities and how it contributes to neighbourhood decline.

The new packs are designed to be used by those who work with young people, including Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and youth workers from Wirral Council's Youth and Play Service. 

For further information, contact Caroline Laing by email at carolinelaing@wirral.gov.uk or follow the Constituency Team’s Twitter account @wallaseyteam and campaign hashtag#itsnoyolk! 

Anyone who would like to report incidents of anti-social behaviour is asked to call police on the 101 number.