Press Release

Enjoy Halloween Safely And Sensibly

Tuesday 23rd October 2007

A safe and sensible Hallowe’en is a priority for agencies across the city in supporting the successful delivery of the city’s largest outdoor Carnival. Calling for all carnival goers to act responsibly and to ensure everyone can enjoy the event, Mayor Alderman Drew Thompson said:

“Each year organisers add something extra to the Hallowe’en Carnival to promote greater family involvement. This has improved each year and has become a positive feature of the event. The outdoor carnival is primarily a family friendly occasion and we would encourage a responsible attitude to help make it a positive experience for everyone involved. The Carnival Care information helps everyone, particularly parents, to plan for a great day out and to ensure children, teenagers and young adults enjoy the Banks of the Foyle Hallowe'en Carnival safely and sensibly”.

www.derrycity.gov.uk/care is an information website that brings together all the information families need to plan for a safe and sensible Hallowe’en. It includes time-check information for parents, information on getting to and from the Carnival, safety advice to promote a responsible attitude to alcohol and behaviour along with general information on fireworks and costume safety. The website also promotes the initiatives adopted by the Civic Alcohol Forum such as Only 4 and the Off Licence Code of Practice while providing useful links to other health promotion sites.

Gerald McColgan, Community Programme Organiser said everyone has a part to play in supporting a safe carnival.

“As organizers we have put into place no-alcohol zones from 4.30pm - 8.30pm, on-site first aid and an information point in Guildhall Square from 11.00am - 9pm. This will provide a one stop location for information about the carnival and will reinforce the carnival care campaign. We will be writing to all pubs, clubs and off-licences asking them to be extra vigilant at this time of the year for underage purchase of alcohol and we are also requesting that taxi companies do not provide home deliveries for alcohol over the Hallowe’en period”.

The Civic Alcohol Forum has spearheaded a number of initiatives aimed at reducing the availability of alcohol to young people. Only 4 initiative which encourages acceptances of only four types of identification and the Off-Licence Code of Practice, which every off-licence in the City Council area has signed-up to, all contribute to improving controls and a stricter environment for the sale and purchase of alcohol to minors.

The Carnival Care campaign also supports the initiatives of other agencies who are involved in other public safety issues, in particular the sale of fireworks during the Hallowe’en period. Fireworks can only be bought from a licensed retailer. All retailers must have their original certificate of registration on display and warning notices saying: “It is illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under the age of 16’. Schools have also received information about the campaign and a dedicated leaflet on the initiatives will be issued to key city centre venues.”

Alan McKinney, Western Health and Social Care A&E Consultant, said: “The Halloween period is an extremely busy time of the year for all the emergency services, particularly for our Western Trust staff working at Altnagelvin Hospital. We urge the general public to be extra safe this year and help to make the Halloween carnival an enjoyable one for all involved. I would ask all parents and adults to be extra vigilant and protect against any underage alcohol or drug abuse at the carnival this week.”

PSNI Area Commander Chief Inspector Chris Yates said: “Safety is paramount when it comes to these events and we are appealing for assistance from parents, as well as youth and community leaders, to help ensure this Halloween is crime and injury free. This year we are making it clear that anyone caught breaking the law will be dealt with robustly and high visibility patrols will be in operation in the city centre. The message is clear - enjoy Halloween, but be sensible and act within the law.”

Willie Lynch, Londonderry District Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service added - “Halloween is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for local Fire Crews and we would ask people to behave responsibly and take care when using their own fireworks and sparklers as they can cause serious injury to people and damage to property if not used correctly. Halloween should be a time of fun and enjoyment for everyone and by following a few simple safety rules when using fireworks and sparklers it can be. We would appeal to people to think safety first and always follow the Fireworks Code. For more information on Firework and Sparkler safety go to www.nifrs.org.”

Concluding, Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson said: “I am urging everyone to take a look at the Carnival Care website and see how they can play their part in making Hallowe’en a continued success”.

The Carnival Care programme has been delivered in consultation with the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the Department for Social Development, the City Centre Initiative, Derry Healthy Cities, the NI Ambulance Service, NI Fire Service, NI Health and Safety Executive, Police Service for Northern Ireland and various departments for Derry City Council.

For full programme details on the Carnival Care campaign visit: www.derrycity.gov.uk/care

Ends

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