Safety message for Halloween and bonfire night

With the news that London's fire crews are likely to be on strike over this year's fireworks season, it's particularly important to be safe this year.

The following information has been released by Haringey police.

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All of Haringey's Safer Neighbourhoods Teams will be on duty on key dates including 30th and 31st October for Halloween and again on November 5th and 6th for Bonfire Night when there have historically been peaks in calls to police.

In addition to Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, Special Constables are being deployed to bolster numbers on the streets, creating a greater police presence. Haringey's Safer Transport officers, funded by Transport for London, and Safer Parks police will also be on patrol. These are in addition to the existing 24/7 police response teams.

Police and Haringey Council officers have been undertaking test purchasing operations and visiting retailers to ensure fireworks and alcohol are not sold to underage youngsters.

Police have also been working closely with Trading Standards and the London Fire Brigade to ensure retailers are registered and are selling fireworks which meet the approved British Safety Standards.

The borough’s Safer Transport officers, funded by Transport for London (TfL) is running concurrently Operation Safebus, an intensive operation to tackle youth disorder on the transport network during the autumn half term and encompassing Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Please support your community and report any incidents of anti social behaviour to police. To find contact details for your local Safer Neighbourhoods team visit www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods or call the police non-emergency number 0300 123 1212. In an emergency call 999.

Residents holding their own firework parties this year are reminded to take care and try not to annoy neighbours or upset animals.

London Fire Brigade Borough Commander, Richard Mills said: "Across the UK around a thousand people are injured by fireworks or bonfires each year and so the best advice we can give people is to attend an organised firework display or bonfire. If you are having your own celebration use common sense and follow the firework code."

Key safety advice:

Advice to parents and carers:

• Make sure you know where your children are and who they are with.
• Go with them trick or treating if you can.
• Keep fireworks in a safe place in the house.
• Report any anti-social behaviour or concerns to your Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
• Attend organised events wherever possible.

Advice to young people:

• We want you to enjoy yourselves but won’t tolerate unacceptable behaviour or anti-social behaviour.
• Ensure you are safe by staying with others.
• Attend organised events wherever possible.
• When trick or treating avoid knocking on the doors of elderly or vulnerable neighbours and causing unnecessary worry.

Haringey Council issue the following simple guidelines for Bonfire night:

• Make sure your pets are kept indoors.
• Have water or a hosepipe nearby in case of accidents.
• Give neighbours a few days' notice of your display or party.
• Use appropriate fireworks - try to avoid really noisy ones.
• If you are using fireworks for a celebration, a Friday or Saturday is preferable, and make sure they are over by 11pm.
• Avoid letting off fireworks in unsuitable weather - if it is still and misty or air quality is poor, pollution could be a problem. (Check air quality on 0800 556677 or at www.airquality.co.uk)
• Let off your fireworks in an open garden area - noise bounces off buildings and smoke and pollution can build up in enclosed spaces.
• If a neighbour complains that you are disturbing them, their pets or livestock, be considerate.
• After your display, clear up firework fallout and dispose of it safely.