Police in Hallowe'en crackdown

Children who go "trick-or-treating" tomorrow face arrest if they carry flour and eggs and intend to cause trouble.

Police forces nationwide have set up special teams of crime-reduction officers who will tackle Hallowe'en revellers with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and £80 on-the-spot fines.

Children who shout abuse through letterboxes or threaten those who withhold sweets face a conviction under public order laws. Spot checks will be carried out on shops, many of which are forbidden to sell eggs and flour to under-16s.

The police say they are merely protecting the public, but children's charities accuse them of being too heavy-handed.