Agencies join forces to ensure everyone has a safe Haloween and Bonfire celebrations.
IN the build up to Halloween and bonfire night agencies are once again joining forces to ensure that the season goes with a bang for all the right reasons.
The Safer and Stronger Communities partnership, which is made up of North East Lincolnshire Council, Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue, take a joint approach to ensure that the public stay safe at this time of the year.
Their work includes targeting those who intend to make easy money by selling what often seem like cheap fireworks, those who sell alcohol to under 18s together with residents who aim to gather refuse in order to build a bonfire, which can present a number of potentially unseen dangers.
Spencer Hunt, safer and stronger communities manager, is confident that the collective work from all partners will mean that everyone will enjoy their celebrations.
Mr Hunt said: “We’ve put into a place a number of measures in the build up to Halloween and Bonfire Night to ensure that businesses, the community and agencies work together to ensure that young people, families and vulnerable people enjoy the season.
“We don’t want to spoil people’s fun but this is about ensuring that they do this responsibly and not at the cost of other people’s well-being. We will be issuing a host of advice over the following weeks but initially we want people to start planning what firework and bonfire displays they will enjoy. We would like to encourage people to attend organised events rather than putting on their own displays as often this is where problems can occur.”
The following organised events are taking place:
- Grimsby Rugby Club firework display
Friday, November 2
5:15pm to 9:45pm
- Pleasure Island firework display
Saturday, November 3
2:30pm to 10:30pm
- Grimsby Golf Club Fireworks
Saturday, November 3
6pm to 7pm
- Waltham Windmill fireworks display
Saturday, November 3
5pm to 9pm
- Healing Legion firework display
Saturday, November 3
4pm to 10pm
- Lucarly’s firework display
Sunday, November 4
4pm to 8:30pm
Insp Neil Pattison said: “Our aim through Operation Kincorth is to ensure that the public can enjoy the festivities at this time of year safely and without having to put up with the sort of anti social behaviour that a small minority of people were responsible for carrying out in previous years.
"As ever we will be working closely with our partners and communities to ensure that those who want to have fun on Halloween and Bonfire night can do so without the minority of trouble makers causing problems and potential hazards during the run up and on the nights themselves.
"I would ask the public to make sure homes are secure over this period as sadly trick or treaters won't be the only potential visitors looking to come away from your house with a prize. Please make sure your doors and other easy access points are securely locked even if you are in your garden enjoying fireworks or simply in another part of your home and this could greatly reduce the chances of becoming a crime victim.
"Operation Kincorth was launched a few years ago now to tackle anti social behaviour and disorder incidents in certain areas of North East Lincolnshire and to date we have seen year on year reductions in such issues so long may this continue."
Watch Manager Terry Taylor from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: “We don’t want to spoil people’s fun but I urge residents to enjoy this time of year responsibly. I would encourage people to attend organised events rather than putting on their own displays as often this is where problems can occur.
“Our attendance at these types of incidents can put pressure on our resources when there may be a greater need for us elsewhere. Bonfire night should not be viewed as a chance to burn waste or household rubbish, these items should be recycled or exposed of at the local tip.”
For further advice and information from the Safer and Stronger Communities partnership over the Halloween and Bonfire season visit their website at www.safercommunities.org or follow the hashtag on Twitter #remember