This Halloween, Cheshire Police are reminding people to be safe and to be sensible.

When it comes to celebrating Halloween this year, Cheshire Police is reminding people to be safe and to be sensible.

Every year, Cheshire Police has to deal with a high number of calls relating to anti-social behaviour as a result of people causing trouble during the Halloween and Bonfire period.

During Halloween last year, 767 calls were received reporting an act of anti-social behaviour. Of these, 100 were alcohol-related and 219 came in via emergency 999 calls. Since 2011, thre has been a 2.6% reduction in emergency 999 calls.

Below are some tips for you and your children when out Trick or Treating

See and Be Seen!

After dark, kids aren't usually swarming the neighbourhood, but on Halloween night, they are. That's why kids need to watch out for cars and other traffic.

Be sure that your mask or costume doesn't cover your eyes or make it tough for you to see where you're going. You might think about wearing makeup instead of a mask. If you do wear a mask, make sure the eye holes are big enough that you can see.

Kids also need to be seen on Halloween, so it's a good idea for them to wear or carry something that glows in the dark. You might choose a glowing necklace, a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or a flashlight or apply reflective tape to their costume.

Don't Trip!

No doubt your children will want their costume to look cool, but there's nothing cool about tripping and stumbling all Halloween night. Make their costume trip-proof by:

• making sure it's not too long
• wearing shoes that fit
• avoiding swords, canes, and other props that can get in your way

Don't Go It Alone

It's best for your children to Trick or Treat with family members or friends.  If your children are Trick or Treating with friends, a mobile phone can be another handy item to have along. That way, you can check in with them or they can call for help, if needed.

Sticking close to home is great for your kids because then they'll know many of the people and they won't get lost in unfamiliar neighbourhoods. And people who already know you just might throw an extra treat in your bag!

When trick-or-treating children should avoid going inside a stranger's home. Sometimes a person might invite them in for a treat, but they can just say that their mum or dad asked them not to go inside anyone's house. (Likewise, young people should never go up to or into a stranger's car even if the person offers them a Halloween treat.)

Quick Tips for you when your children are Trick or Treating:

• Accompany young children (under age 10) on their rounds. But make sure they know their home phone number, the cell phone numbers of parents and any other trusted adult who's supervising, and how to call 999 in case they get lost.
• For older kids who are trick-or-treating on their own, make sure you approve of the route they'll be taking and know when they'll be coming home. Also be sure that they:
  • carry a cell phone, if possible
  • go in a group and stay together
  • only go to houses with porch lights on and walk on sidewalks on lit streets (never walk through alleys or across lawns)
  • know to never go into strangers' homes or cars
  • cross the street at crosswalks and never assume that vehicles will stop
• Give kids flashlights with new batteries.
• Limit trick-or-treating to your neighborhood and the homes of people you and your children know.
• When your kids get home, check all treats to make sure they're safely sealed and there are no signs of tampering, such as small pinholes, loose or torn packages, and packages that appear to have been taped or glued back together. Throw out loose candy, spoiled items, and any homemade treats that haven't been made by someone you know.
• Don't allow young children to have hard candy or gum that could cause choking.
• Make sure trick-or-treaters will be safe when visiting your home, too. Remove lawn decorations, sprinklers, toys, bicycles, wet leaves, or anything that might obstruct your walkway. Provide a well-lit outside entrance to your home. Keep family pets away from trick-or-treaters, even if they seem harmless to you. 

Let's Talk Treats

Before your children start eating the treats in their bag, you'll want to get a good look at them. When you get home, dump everything out and have a look at what they have and you can help to get rid of stuff they shouldn't eat. For instance, you don't want them to eat anything that's loose or not in a wrapper. Anything unwrapped, including fresh fruit, should be thrown away. Without a wrapper, it's hard to tell if food is clean and safe to eat.

Overall have a great time and enjoy this past-time that has gone on for hundreds of years....!