25 Oct 2012
The Safer Stockport Partnership has launched its annual safety initiative over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period.
Operation Treacle involves Stockport Council, the Police and the Fire Service working in partnership to ensure residents enjoy a safe and trouble free Halloween and Bonfire Night.
The initiative will highlight dangers and possible consequences of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and fireworks misuse.
The operation is now in its sixth consecutive year, and will involve:
- Increased patrols of potential hotspot areas for anti-social behaviour
- Dedicated firework safety patrols
- Test purchases at off-licences to stop underage drinking
- Inspections of premises licenced to sell fireworks in the borough
Action will be taken against anyone found harassing or intimidating other people, playing with eggs and flour, or vandalising property. Young people aged under 18 caught with fireworks will face an £80 fine.
Civil penalties that could be enforced include anti-social behaviour contracts, anti-social behaviour orders, and tenancy enforcement actions and evictions.
Officers involved in Operation Treacle have also visited schools in a bid to educate children about the dangers and consequences of playing with fireworks, deliberately setting fires and making hoax calls to the emergency services.
Residents can visit www.safe4autumn.com for safety advice, details of organised bonfire events or to download their own Halloween ‘Trick or Treaters welcome/not welcome’ posters.
There are also details on how to enter a competition to win an iPad 2.