Trick or treating may go against ‘religious or cultural beliefs’, police have warned as children prepare to head out onto the streets for Halloween.
Councils and police forces are handing out ‘no trick or treat’ posters so that households can deter unwanted visitors looking for chocolate and sweets.
Official guidance from Leicestershire Police says that some people may choose to avoid the celebrations as they are ‘observing religious or cultural beliefs that do not include Halloween’.
The advice tells revellers to stay clear of the homes with ‘no trick or treat’ posters and avoid homes without any Halloween decorations or pumpkins.
Oadby and Wigston police, which is part of Leicestershire Police force, thanked residents for helping to ‘keep communities safe, respectful and inclusive’.
Swale Borough Council in Kent has also issued advice saying some residents may not celebrate Halloween as they ‘have religious reasons not to take part’.
In partnership with Kent Police, the council is also issuing ‘no trick or treat’ posters.
Their guidance adds that ‘not everyone feels safe opening the door to strangers in the dark’, or that some households may ‘not have the disposable income for decorations and sweets’.
Councils and police forces are handing out ‘no trick or treat’ posters this Halloween so that households can deter unwanted visitors looking for chocolate and sweets
Hannah Perkin, chairman of the community committee of the council, said: ‘While many households are decorating their homes, making their costumes or buying sweets for the trick or treaters, some in Swale may be worrying about Halloween instead.
‘Whether they don’t feel safe opening the door to strangers, have health issues, are going through financial hardship or don’t take part for religious reasons, we need to respect their right to sit out of the festivities.’
She added that tricks such as throwing eggs are ‘not acceptable and can ruin people’s night’.
Suffolk Constabulary encouraged retailers to ‘restrict the sale of eggs and flour to young people’ in the run-up to Halloween, while officers in Hampshire are asking parents to make sure their children ‘don’t have access to fireworks, alcohol, eggs or flour’.
Other councils are telling residents not to carve pumpkins in a bid to stop wasting vegetable scraps.
Bedford Council told people to paint pumpkins instead, saying: ‘Residents are being asked to consider no-carve pumpkins, reducing food waste.’
Councillor Nicky Gribble said: ‘Paint a pumpkin and use its flesh in a recipe to make celebrations more sustainable.’
North East Derbyshire Council told residents not to buy supermarket pumpkins due to their high carbon emissions, and told residents not to give out individually-wrapped sweets as the paper and foil might not be disposed of properly.
The authority said: ‘Make an environmentally-conscious choice by purchasing pumpkins from a local farm, reducing carbon emissions from long-distance food transportation. And opt for zero-waste treats.’
Halloween began as the festival of Samhain, part of the ancient Celtic religion in Britain and other parts of Europe.
With the Christian religion, it later became All Hallows’ Eve – the day before All Saints’ Day on November 1, which commemorates the dead.
While the authorities have not explained the religious objections, many faith groups could have theological objections, as it could be seen as too Christian by non-Christians, or too pagan by Christians.
Police forces and councils have also raised concerns over trick-or-treaters knocking on vulnerable people’s doors.
Leicestershire Police says some may be concerned about the trick-or-treaters as they suffer from ‘PTSD’.
Meanwhile, Buckinghamshire Council added that some residents may not wish to be visited because they are ‘fighting demons of their own’ and that Halloween revellers should ‘not knock too loudly’.
It added that those carving pumpkins should use battery-powered tealights instead of real candles.
The Metropolitan Police warned that while Halloween can be ‘harmless family fun’, it may also be a ‘fearful time’ for many.
Sussex Police told trick-or-treaters to ‘consider calling only at houses where you know the occupants’, while Derbyshire Constabulary warned that it can be ‘stressful’.
