FOI request reveals sharp rise in 'clown crime'
Police in the Avon and Somerset force area have dealt with a record number of incidents involving people dressed as clowns this year.
A Freedom of Information request submitted to the force asked for the number of incidents reported each year "involving people dressed as clowns or containing a reference to the world 'clown'" since 2010.
The results reveal a sharp rise in the the number of incidents in 2016 compared with previous years.
It follows the so-called "killer clown craze" which swept the nation this winter, where people were dressing up as clowns to frighten members of the public.
Earlier this winter police had to issue a warning that people dressing up as clowns could be prosecuted for intimidating or threatening behaviour.