Four-Year-Old Found Unsupervised on Street in Bauska Municipality on Halloween

On Halloween evening in Bauska municipality, Latvia, when many children and teenagers were out in streets and public places, the municipal police and State Police crime prevention officers carried out a raid. Its aim was to monitor public order, the safety of children and young people, and parents' responsibility for minors. The raid uncovered several violations, including a four-year-old child found alone on a street without supervision.

Minors under the influence of alcohol

Two administrative violation proceedings were opened because minors were under the influence of alcohol. One of them was also not allowed to be out on the street after 10 p.m. because the person was under 16, and a separate case was started over that.

Shortly after 10 p.m., police also met two young children who were hurrying home but had been delayed by a queue in a shop. They were taken home and handed over to their parents, and preventive talks were held with the children and parents.

Child without an adult and an intoxicated parent

One proceeding concerns a four-year-old who was on the street alone, without an adult or at least a 13-year-old present. In another case, proceedings were opened against a parent who was so intoxicated in a public place that he could not look after his underage daughter. A further case was started over possible unlawful use of narcotic or psychotropic substances.

Other incidents

Children received five oral warnings for not wearing helmets or for riding a bicycle without the required cycling qualification. Police also received complaints that residential houses were pelted with eggs during Halloween activities.

Reinis Ikaunieks, head of the Bauska municipal police, said public order must be observed during celebrations too, and that people who do not celebrate should be respected. He urged residents to remember that holidays are meant for enjoyment, not for damaging others' property or disturbing order. The municipality stresses that the raid was meant not only to prevent violations but also to look after children's safety at a time when Halloween draws many of them into public spaces.