WITH the clocks going back and the dark nights coming in, it is a suitable time to speak on home security and crime prevention.

Now is the time to look at security lighting and CCTV for your home security. It is important to make your home as uninviting as possible for thieves.

There is good crime prevention advice on the Police Scotland website and your local community officer can be contacted for crime prevention advice. Visit scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/your-home/your-house

The weather has also changed for the worst recently. I had to defrost the car for the first time this winter the other day. It is also worth making sure your car is ready for the winter.

Six simple tips from the Met Office can be found at metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/travel/6-things-to-do-to-prepare-your-vehicle-for-winter-weather

I see all the Halloween costumes and fireworks are now in prime position in the shops and I need to buy numerous boxes of sweets for 'trick or treaters'. How American we have become – it was called 'guising' in my day.

On a serious note, the scenes last year just across the boundary in Craigmillar were shocking on November 5. We certainly do not wish any of that behaviour to be replicated in East Lothian and to combat that there will be additional officers out patrolling the towns around the county. Also, our school link officers, along with our colleagues in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, have been engaging with young people in and out of school, passing out the safety message in relation to fireworks.

Anyone using fireworks in a dangerous manner or supplying them to young people will find themselves in front of a sheriff.

Halloween and Bonfire Night are extremely busy for the emergency services, so please consider the impact on other people in your community, particularly if they have pets, as the noise and shock of unplanned fireworks can be distressing for both animals and people alike.

Also, make sure you know where your teenagers are and what they are doing; not to say all teenagers are the same, as the vast majority do not come to police attention, but last year a high proportion of the anti-social behaviour in East Lothian around Halloween was in relation to teenagers.

I will be taking on supervisory role in the King household on Halloween, making sure not all the good sweets are given away!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween and Bonfire Night.