Trick or treat is part of Halloween, but being spooked by ghosts and ghouls is not everyone’s idea of fun.

Thames Valley Police and West Berkshire Council are urging residents who don't want to be disturbed to display No Trick or Treat posters and ask trick or treaters to respect their neighbours wishes.

Romy Frieburghaus, Crime Reduction Advisor for West Berkshire said, “Elderly people and those living alone may feel intimidated by unexpected callers. We ask that parents or responsible adults accompany children when they are out trick or treating to make sure that they are supervised and stay safe.”

Hilary Cole, West Berkshire’s Executive Councillor for Public Protection said, “It is also a good idea to discuss with your children what ‘tricks’ are acceptable and  make neighbours who are happy to have trick or treat calls aware of what time you expect to call at their house.”

She added, “As a general rule, if youngsters are old enough to trick or treat on their own, they are too old to do it”.

No Trick or Treat posters will be available in all libraries, leisure centres, police stations and council venues within the borough or can be downloaded via http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents/crprev-home-hols-halloween

If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your coordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween.

To report any suspicious activity during Halloween or to speak to your local neighbourhood policing team, call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number, 0845 8 505 505.

In an emergency, if a crime is being committed, there is a risk of injury or a risk of serious damage to property, call 999.

Operation Confidence is a Force-wide initiative, aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour across the region through partnership activities the campaign that was launched on Monday (19/10) will run until 19 December.

Stick a sign on your door saying  "USER 23 LIVES HERE", that will sort them out and keep them away.

What a rude and rather childish comment.

How about a 'King Herods Day',  a day when adults can slap kids round the back of the head for no reason and get away with it...?

That might right a few wrongs.


Threep.

Quoted from whingewhingewhinge

What a rude and rather childish comment.

Get a life. What is rude about it ?? Chill out and get a sense of humour.

How about WBC stop nannying and focus on sacking more non-workers so my tax bill can come down.

Quoted from Meddler

How about WBC stop nannying and focus on sacking more non-workers so my tax bill can come down.

How insensitive, in other words "forget the elderly, I want lower taxes".

Let's hope you're not in need of the "non-worker" they sack some time in the future when you're old and infirm.

Quoted from user23.3

How insensitive, in other words "forget the elderly, I want lower taxes".

Let's hope you're not in need of the "non-worker" they sack some time in the future when you're old and infirm.

It's always a delight to be able to resolve the fuzziness from your public sector mindset.

Carter: How are we getting on with the trick or treat campaign?
Minion: Very well Supreme Leader. We have spent every penny!
Carter: What on, comrade?
Minion: Some posters, our Glorious Ruler.
Plod: Posters? Does that mean we don't have to go out in the cold?
Carter: Yes. Perhaps you could target the 24 hour garage for signs of disobedience.
Plod: We're already onto it. We've stocked up on Ginsters and are ready for a long steakbake [shurely stakeout - ed].
Carter: Good work comrades. I don't want anyone thinking we forget the elderly.
Minion: No sir. Last year, these posters reduced trick or treating by 82%.
Carter: As long as you tick it off the action plan, we don't need to know how it went.
Minion: Wise words Supreme Leader! Viva Cartergrad!

Quoted from Meddler

It's always a delight to be able to resolve the fuzziness from your public sector mindset.

Let's hope you can laugh it off when you're old and infirm and you need the services they've cut to take a few pennies off your tax bill twenty years ago.

I'm not really sure wishing ill on the elderly to save a few pennies and comparing "Carter" to one of the biggest perpetrators of mass murder the world has ever known counts as humour in my book. Each to their own though.

Quoted from user23.3

I'm not really sure wishing ill on the elderly to save a few pennies and comparing "Carter" to one of the biggest perpetrators of mass murder the world has ever known counts as humour in my book. Each to their own though.

Have I missed something, where did he do that? That wouldn't have crossed my mind until you mentioned it

Quoted from 133

Have I missed something, where did he do that? That wouldn't have crossed my mind until you mentioned it

Cartergrad, Stalingrad - did this really never cross your mind?

Quoted from blackdog

Cartergrad, Stalingrad - did this really never cross your mind?

Meddler's used the term for so long, it's just a familiar local name now  

Halloween not far away, so expect a regurgitation of the OP any day now.

But for those who think nanny statism is dead....here's a link to reassure you that WBC is still very keen to save us from ourselves.

http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=23754

Bicker Bicker Bicker ........
Back to the original post - when the kids were younger we put a sign on the door saying "sorry no trick or treaters after 7pm please" - and it worked.

Quoted from PaulaM

Bicker Bicker Bicker ........
Back to the original post - when the kids were younger we put a sign on the door saying "sorry no trick or treaters after 7pm please" - and it worked.

Exactly...you did it yourself. You didn't need the state to do it for you. Stopping these silly pointless campaigns will save money off our taxes.

What is the history of trick or treat and even Halloween. Are these direct imports from the USA. I've seen the odd American TV program where the kids and their parents really go to town to dress up like ghouls and it all seems to be jolly fun but then, we also have Guy Fawkes so do we really need trick or treat. Nobody tried to blow up their parliament in days gone by so they are missing out on that one but perhasps Bin Laden will be the effigy of the future for them.

Penny for the guy mister.

Do not have any idea how the Americanisation (?) came about. But October 31st and November 1st have long been important Pagan dates. Only back in the day it was called 'Samhain'. But was always associated with Demons, Witches, Bonfires, Masks, etc etc.. One of our more interesting festivals. (unless of course, your crops have failed and Edward Woodward turns up on a fool's errand -  then that one gets much more interesting)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain


Threep.

Woodwood did come a cropper for a copper.
In a neighbourhoood of young children and their mums,
they would pass by during the day and ask if we were happy,for them to come calling.
We were the same age but didn't wish to let our ones loose on the neighbours!

The kids were well behaved, and and well dressed up. It was frankly a bit daft.
Then the egg throwing started. It is almost impossible to remove egg from stucco. Ask Michaelangelo.
Shops in the area will not sell eggs in the same way as they try not to sell booze.
The attraction of abusing elderly folk is obvious. Just ringing the bell and shouting when there is no reply must be fun.