Halloween troublemakers in Colchester 'terrorise' residents

Residents living on the Paxman estate, off Port Lane in Colchester, had their sweets stolen by louts who went door-to-door causing mischief.

Old Heath and the Hythe councillor Mike Lilley said: “It doesn’t feel like Halloween anymore, we have an American version where they go around terrorising people”.

One social media user said her child was left heartbroken after his bowl full of sweets was stolen from outside their home.

Trouble - Old Heath and the Hythe councillor Mike Lilley said youngsters 'terrorised' the Hythe on Halloween night

Others reported non-novelty glass and china items being snatched from in and around their properties.

Mr Lilley added: “Near Port Lane we had an awful lot of problems, we had youngsters going along on e-scooters and stealing bowls of sweets.

“Antisocial behaviour always rises on Halloween night.”

Police officers were stretched to the limit throughout Tuesday night as they responded to a rise in reported crimes.

Mischief - residents on the Paxman estate in Colchester were targeted by troublemakers (Image: Google)

Essex Police issued several dispersal orders across the county and dispatched officers to firework-related disorder.

Ahead of the festivities, Colchester’s policing team urged people “not to deliberately go out of the way to scare or frighten members of the public”.

The county's police force said its control room received 549 calls to 999 within six hours during a “busy shift” for call handlers.

It revealed eight calls made inside half an hour were in relation to fireworks being used dangerously.

The reports saw police enforce a dispersal order across Witham from 8pm until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Action - a dispersal order was imposed across Witham on Halloween night (Image: Essex Police)

Acting Insp Kevin Mayle said: “This dispersal order has been put in place in light of the behaviour of a small minority of people behaving irresponsibly and dangerously.

“We want to make sure everyone is able to enjoy Halloween night and this dispersal order gives us the powers to ensure that.”

Further dispersal orders were also put in place across Harlow and the Epping Forest district amid similar issues with firework disorder.

Insp Danny Warner added: “These are necessary to further prevent members of the public being harassed, alarmed or distressed by the behaviour of a small minority on Halloween.”