October 31 is Halloween – a night many people look forward to, but one that others dread for the noise, screaming and constant knocking at the door. Police have weighed in on the debate, explaining what options (if any) householders actually have.
On Ask The Police, a website administered by police forces around the UK, it was asked: “Children are trick or treating in the street, can the police do anything about it?”
The experts replied: “Trick or treating is a fun pastime that children have been doing for many years and is something that only happens once a year. Unless their behaviour amounts to harassment or is considered anti-social, then the police will not get involved.”
There are three main categories for antisocial behaviour, depending on how many people are affected:
‘It’s not completely safe’
A worried parent also asked: “My child wants to go out trick or treating, do you have any advice?” The police offered their advice, urging people to never let kids trick-or-treat alone.
It explained: “Trick or treating is a fun pastime, however it is not completely safe to allow your child out alone at night. A good idea would be to take the children out in a group in the early evening, accompanied by an adult. This ensures that your child can still go trick or treating but also ensures their safety and your peace of mind.”
October 31 tradition
Halloween has its roots in Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival celebrated around 2,000 years ago. The Celts believed Samhain (pronounced “sow-ain”) signalled a time when the boundary between the living world and the spirit world grew thinner, allowing the dead to return more easily.
To mark it, communities lit bonfires, wore costumes and took part in rituals. As the Romans spread across Europe and, later, Christianity reached Celtic regions, many of these traditions were absorbed, adapted and merged with newer religious observances.
In time, All Saints’ Day became the main Christian festival, with the evening before known as All Hallows’ Eve – a name that eventually shortened to Halloween.
If you’re heading out, take extra care: stay in groups, don’t let children trick-or-treat alone, and choose well-lit routes.
