POLICE RESPONSE FOLLOWING REPORTS OF PEOPLE DRESSED AS CLOWNS

Hertfordshire Constabulary is issuing a warning following several reports of people dressed as clowns and attempting to frighten people.

Thames Valley Police called to 14 incidents in just one day.

There have been five reported incidents across the county and officers are working to understand the nature of these calls. Facebook Clowns Page to turn up at schools

Some of the incidents reported to police to date, include:

Cheryl Warby was out with her daughter riding their bikes up the Harebraks towards the adventure playground when a black car fiesta or corsa shaped stopped on the roundabout and beeped at them. 
"When they looked they saw a clown face and the person was holding a butter knife he said to the girls 'I'm a clown with a knife'.

Now they wont go out in fear of something happening.

• On Thursday, October 6 at around 9.51pm, a man dressed as a clown was approaching shoppers leaving Tesco in Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead.

• On Friday, October 7 at 8.32pm, a woman reported that she was being chased by clowns in London Road, Sawbridgeworth. Officers attended immediately and there was no trace of the woman or the clowns.

• On Friday at 9.24pm it was reported that there was a man dressed as a clown in Poles Lane, Ware. Officers attended and no clown was located.

• On Friday at 11.02pm it was reported that the caller had been told there was a clown in Six Hills Way, Stevenage, at around 6pm that day.

• On Friday at 11.06pm it was reported that a teenager had been involved in a verbal altercation with a man in a clown mask in Burns Road, Royston.

• On Tuesday at 8.20 am a girl walking through an Alleyway by Roe Hill which comes out on to Woods Avenue heard a noise behind her and turned around to see a man wearing a clown mask.

• On Tuesday shortly before 7 am a boy was walking through St Nicholas’ Fields in Stevenage where he saw two people dressed as clowns scaring people.

Chief Inspector Gerry McDonald said: “Although the people dressing up as clowns may think they are taking part in some harmless fun, they should be mindful of the impact their actions may have on others and be aware that any behaviour that causes another person alarm or distress could lead to them being arrested under the Public Order Act 1986. 

“We want people to enjoy themselves as we approach Halloween but not at the expense of others. 

“In one incident a man dressed as a clown was approaching shoppers outside Tesco in Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead, whilst being filmed by his laughing friends. They may have thought this was a comical prank but it was causing distress to others. 

“It is also important that people use social media responsibly and do not post items that could further fuel this ‘craze’ and create unnecessary fear within the community.” 

He added: “At this stage it is unclear whether some of these reports have been made by hoax callers. I’d like to remind the public that the Constabulary will take robust action against anyone who makes hoax calls to the force as this can divert precious resources away from real emergencies.”

This follows similar reports throughout Britain. Gloucestershire Police said it had received six reports of clown-related incidents, while South Wales Police has also attended numerous similar reports.