Horror clown craze: Police looking into reported sightings in Shrewsbury
Police in Shrewsbury have warned people dressing up as clowns and scaring people that they face arrest on public order offences.
It comes as officers in the town investigate numerous reports of the creepy clowns jumping out on people.
Officers say the latest report was in Sundorne on Wednesday night with a previous clown sighting in Harlescott Grange just 24 hours earlier.
West Mercia Police said there have been multiple incidents in Shrewsbury involving pranksters dressed as clowns and causing anti-social behaviour and public disorder.
They say the irresponsible behaviour is causing concerns due to the fear their actions are causing children and innocent members of the public.
Police have adopted a zero tolerance to this type of behaviour; anyone caught terrorising the public in this sort of manner will face being arrested for public order offences.
A tweet on the @ShrewsburyCops account said: "Any people dressed up as clowns intimidating people need to be reported to us and we will arrest them for a public order offence or similar."
As Halloween approaches police are asking members of the public to seriously consider their actions as any incident involving using fear to scare other members of the public and vulnerable people will be dealt with robustly by police.
Superintendent Kevin Purcell, of West Mercia Police, called on those taking part in the pranks to think about their actions.
He said: "Since last week we have received reports from scared and worried members of the public. We believe this is linked to a wider trend.
"While we understand that such incidents could be considered pranks by some I would like to appeal to those carrying out this behaviour, or thinking of taking part, to really consider the distress and fear they could cause people, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community such as children and the elderly.
"I would also warn them that there are further consequences to their behaviour. Not only could they by committing a public order offence, which will see police action, their actions could cause delays for other emergencies requiring police attendance."
