As Halloween and Bonfire Night approach, Hemel Conservatives encourage all residents to observe the safety advice issued by Hertfordshire Police. We believe that these festivities should be a source of fun and community spirit, and with sensible behaviour, everyone in Hemel can the villages can enjoy them safely.

Why this matters

Our community thrives when neighbours look out for each other. Celebrations like trick-or-treating and bonfire gatherings bring joy, but they also bring responsibility. We fully endorse the message from Hertfordshire Police that participants should be “considerate and respectful of their neighbours and others.”  We also thank the Police for confirming that additional patrols are planned to offer a reassuring presence to residents.

Key advice from Hertfordshire Police

Here are the main points from Hertfordshire Police that we ask residents in Hemel to take to heart:

• Children should never go trick-or‐treating alone.  They should always accompanied by an adult.
• Only knock on doors if you see clear signs that visitors are welcome (e.g. Halloween decorations or a “Trick or Treaters Welcome” sign).
• Keep antics safe: causing damage, using threatening behaviour or abusive language are all offences.
• Be mindful of road safety, especially after dark.
• It is illegal to set off fireworks in public areas.
• If hosting a private firework event, remember that fireworks must not be set off after 11pm, except for the 5 November, when the legal cut off is midnight.

Hemel Conservatives’ Pledge

As your local Conservative Association, we pledge to:

• Support the work of Hertfordshire Police and our Neighbourhood Officers, ensuring they have the community backing to keep Hemel Hempstead safe over this period.
• Encourage residents to play their part by planning any celebrations responsibly and respectfully.
• Work with local leaders, schools and community groups to promote safe trick-or-treat routes, responsible fireworks usage and a friendly neighbourhood atmosphere.
• Listen to residents’ concerns: if any adult or child is worried about anti‐social behaviour, or safe access in their area, we will raise it with the local policing team and community safety partners.

A Final Word...

Festivities like Halloween and Bonfire Night are part of what brings our community together, but enjoyment shouldn’t come at someone else’s expense. 

By following the sensible guidance from Hertfordshire Police, we can help ensure that our streets remain safe, friendly and neighbourly in the coming weeks.

So from all of us at the Hemel Conservatives: enjoy the celebrations, stay safe, look out for each other, and let’s make this a splendid, spooktacular and trouble-free time for everyone in our town.