TRICK and treaters were today told to behave themselves – and stay away from people who do not want to take part in Hallowe'en.Police in Felixstowe are trying to prevent a repeat of the "horrendous and totally unacceptable" antics of two years ago when yobs wrecked the evening.

TRICK and treaters were today told to behave themselves – and stay away from people who do not want to take part in Hallowe'en.

Police in Felixstowe are trying to prevent a repeat of the "horrendous and totally unacceptable" antics of two years ago when yobs wrecked the evening.

"We don't want to be killjoys or stop people enjoying themselves," said Sgt Mick Richardson.

"We are simply asking that they behave themselves properly and where households have a notice saying they are not taking part, not to knock on those doors and disturb them."

Tonight, in conjunction with the police, The Evening Star publishes a poster which residents can cut out and stick on their doors or windows on October 31 to tell youngsters that they are not taking part in trick and treat.

Police have also printed a second poster which is being distributed to shops in the town and tells children they will not be able to buy eggs on October 30 or 31 from those outlets.

Sgt Richardson said there would be extra police on duty for Hallowe'en and a full complement of community police officers on their beats.

"We want to ensure that it is a peaceful night with none of the problems we had two years ago," he said.

"Last year was a success from a policing and behaviour point of view and we want to build on that with a further reduction in the number of complaints.

"If people do not want to take part, then their right not to do so should be respected. Our aim is to ensure there is none of the anti-social behaviour which we know can sometimes occur with high-spirited youths and which has in the past resulted in criminal damage, and in frightening elderly people."

He appealed for groups of youngsters doing trick or treat to be accompanied by an adult.

Two years ago there was a record number of complaints to police after a series of Hallowe'en night incidents across the county.

People answering doors had been abused, threatened and intimidated, pelted with eggs before they could say if they would give a treat, and had ketchup squirted through letter boxes.

Young children had sweets and money stolen from them by older youths, and in one incident in Trimley a 12-year-old girl had her treats stolen from her after she was threatened by a 14-year-old boy with a plastic baseball bat.