Police forces have been called to several incidents around the country involving pranksters dressing up as scary clowns to jump out and frighten people – in some cases, reportedly brandishing knives.
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The criminal clown is popping up everywhere, but it’s giving good honest clowns a bad name.
“I’d just encourage people to have a rethink if they’re thinking about engaging in that behaviour because it is really stupid”.
School children are being targeted on their way to school as part of the “clown craze”, also known as “Killer Clown” – a trend that seems to have been inspired by clown-related pranks in the United States, police said.
Thames Valley Police Chief Superintendent Andy Boyd said while officers did not want to be “accused of stopping people enjoying themselves” those performing the prank needed to be mindful of the distress they may cause.
Although some consider the clown sightings amusing, police are taking clown calls seriously.
“If anything is suspicious, anything, be it somebody verbally or physically acting menacing in any type of costume, notify the police right away”, said Capt. Laurence Martin of the Wayne Police Department in New Jersey, which responded to a report of a clown sighting last week.
Officers here are warning that such pranks could land the clowns behind them in serious trouble after one teenager was arrested by their colleagues for possessing a knife while dressed up. I like to go out at night to study at the library but if I see a clown trying to chase me I will get freaked out and want to go home when I know I should be on campus studying and getting things done. “Those who tend to be scared of them are older and teenaged, and I take nothing personally”.
Police are now investigating reports of a clown-faced passenger travelling on a school bus route, leaving children petrified.Plymouth bus company Citybus.
A man dressed as a clown “wearing a hockey mask and a blood-stained poncho” was captured on camera in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, on Thursday.
Amazon.co.uk offer a “child killer clown costume” advertised “for kids” at £24.99 sold by Mega Fancy Dress on the retail giant’s website.
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They added: “Whether those involved are doing it for a joke or not this is no laughing matter”.
