Have fun safely (From Penarth Times)

Have fun safely

VALE police have revealed how Hallowe'en has become their busiest night of the year, with resources stretched as they try to cope with calls from frightened residents.

While for hundreds of children it's a fun night of dressing up and games, police say they get inundated with calls from frightened older residents or complaints about gangs of youths causing a nuisance.

The situation has become so bad they are launching a new campaign to try to take the fear and mayhem out of the evening.

It's not only the night of October 31 that problems arise.

Already police have been called to a number of incidents, including one where a driver had a lucky escape when his car was hit by an egg.

It does not sound too serious, but in fact the velocity was such that it smashed the car's indicator light. One resident from Penarth said: "The town centre shops are targeted every year. It's as though kids use Hallowe'en as an excuse to go on the rampage.

Supt Colin Jones said: "Hallowe'en has turned into the busiest night in the policing calendar.

"The volume of telephone calls from the public reporting nuisance groups of youths is steadily increasing."

But he insists he does not want to spoil the tradition of Hallowe'en.

"We've printed posters for people to put into windows. One side says 'trick or treaters' welcome, the other states 'no callers please' for genuine callers to know where, and where not, to visit."

But along with the friendly message, comes a warning: 'Police officers will be on the look-out for youths carrying potential missiles.'

A second poster will go into shops selling eggs and flour as a reminder to staff that they have to right to refuse a sale if they think the items will be misused.

Supt Jones said: "The posters are available in police stations around the Vale."

* The Vale of Glamorgan's Supt Jones has been congratulated by Prime Minister Tony Blair for his work in cutting local crime.

Since the mid-1990s there has been a dramatic drop from 15,000 to 10,000 recorded crimes.