Stay safe this season
With Halloween and Bonfire Night around the corner, Haringey Police have commenced their seasonal crackdown on crime and anti social behaviour with the focus on working in partnership to ensure the safety of our communities throughout this period.
In the run up to bonfire night police Safer Schools officers at the borough's secondary schools will be talking to young people about the law, safety and dangers regarding fireworks. Officers are also carrying out after school patrols at key locations, such as busy transport hubs to reassure young people and the wider community and prevent, deter and disrupt crime and anti social behaviour.
All of Haringey’s Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) will be patrolling at key times in town centres and transport hubs on key dates through the period when there have historically been peaks in calls to police. SNT officers will be advising shops about being responsible when selling eggs and flour and speaking to people at youth clubs and community centres about firework and trick or treat safety and anti social behaviour.
Police will be using a variety of tactics to prevent, deter and disrupt those intent on carrying weapons. Haringey’s Volunteer Police Cadets will be working with Police and Trading Standards on test purchase operations regarding the sale of fireworks, alcohol and knives. Already this week several shops have been identified as selling age restricted goods to young people and the council trading standards department will be taking action.
In addition the MPS Safer Transport Command, funded by Transport for London [TfL], is running concurrently Operation Safebus, an intensive two week operation to tackle youth disorder on the transport network during the autumn half term and encompassing Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Haringey Police Borough Commander Det Chief Supt Sandra Looby said: “We are working in partnership with Haringey Council and our emergency services colleagues to help make sure that people can enjoy themselves safely and responsibly.
“We will be using a variety of tactics from reassurance patrols and education through to enforcement. Where people choose to behave outside the law and without any consideration for others they will face the consequences.
“Our Volunteer Police Cadets will be helping to carry out test purchase operations, their enthusiasm and regard for their local community reflects that of the young people of Haringey, the vast majority of whom behave safely and responsibly.
“If you are going out to celebrate stay safe by staying with others and try to attend well organised events; if you are going out for the evening, ensure you have closed and locked your doors and windows and make sure that you leave lights on - the clocks go back on 30 October, so it may be dark before you expect it; when you are out, keep your valuables and high value mobile phones out of sight.
“If trick or treating, don’t allow your actions to cause distress or worry to the more vulnerable members of our communities. Wherever possible parents should try to accompany their children.”
“If you have concerns about anti social behaviour contact your local Safer Neighbouhoods team. In an emergency always dial 999.”
All 32 London boroughs have a local plan in place, drawing together experience and successful tactics from previous years as well as managing planned events in their areas, focusing our resources in the right places and working closely and continually with our partners and communities.
Boroughs will receive central support for their operations, including mobile police units that will be deployed in response to particular threats. This additional support is controlled and directed from the MPS Central Command Complex [one of the three MPS 999 centres].
Commander Christine Jones said: "We are here for London and to help make sure that everyone can enjoy the festivities and stay safe.
"I would like to stress that our operations are not aimed at demonising young people, the large majority of whom behave safely and responsibly. However those intent on committing crime and anti social behaviour will face the consequences."
Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing, added: "We want people to enjoy themselves and also to ensure everyone feels safe going about their business and in their communities.
"London remains one of the safest cities to go out at night, but of course you should also employ common sense and be aware of what's happening around you.
"For the minority of people that might cause trouble, this will not be tolerated and the police will be ready to respond, quickly and decisively."
PC Paul KANE 263YR
Stroud Green SNT