No ‘killer clown’ incidents in Welshpool

Despite more than 30 ‘killer clown’ incidents reported in the Dyfed-Powys and South Wales Police areas over the past weekend, locally there have been no sightings according to police.

The bizarre craze has caused a big anti-social behaviour surge across the UK after it started in the USA with people dressed as clowns scaring members of the public, sometimes threatening violence.

It has taken a twist of late with ‘clown hunters’ carrying out vigilante attacks resulting in an unwelcome increase in needless crimes reported.

Over the past few days, unsubstantiated reports have appeared on local social media claiming that a clown had been seen in Welshpool on Saturday night, with some mentioning that a knife was involved and that the helicopter was dispatched.

But police have been quick to quash the gossip.

“The local officers say there has been no such report,” said a police spokesperson. “They also said the NPAS helicopter has not been deployed in that area.”

Sgt Rhys Williams of Dyfed-Powys Police added that while dressing up was not a criminal offence, “deliberately scaring someone, causing harassment, alarm or distress could lead to arrest”.

No arrests have been made in Wales.