Police and local authorities are being criticised for backing a campaign to refuse the sale of flour and eggs to youngsters.

Posters have started to circulate ahead of Halloween saying "we won't sell eggs and flour to anyone under 16."

The poster, aimed at children, continues: "throwing flour and eggs is not funny and it could end up in trouble.

Under the banner "Safer Autumn" it is available for store keepers to put in their windows. It includes the logos of Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue, Medway and Kent County Councils and Neighbour Watch.

But some have hit out at the campaign, claiming it penalises teenagers, and is discriminatory.

Louis Hodson said on Twitter: "Kent Police penalising the many teenagers who are young carers and those who are simply helping out by picking up some shopping.

"Nanny state has gone into overdrive. Matthew Scott (Kent's crime commissioner) please sort your force's priorities. What a waste of taxpayer money."

Another tweet from Dan Moxon addressed the Children's Commissioner for England, urging Anne Longfield to "look into the fact Kent Police is working with local shops to create posters that encourage direct discrimination on grounds of age.

He added: "So what you are saying is you helped create posters that promote the fact these shops are discriminating on grounds of age .....did you pay for them to be printed?"

Chief Inspector Tim Cook, from Kent Police’s Community Safety and Partnerships Department, said: "Kent Police works with partner agencies throughout the year to share information and help prevent offences taking place.

"This includes initiatives such as anti-burglary campaigns and knife amnesties.

"The Safer Autumn campaign is an initiative the force has previously run to prevent incidents of antisocial behaviour in the run up to Halloween and bonfire night.

"As part of this, shops were provided with posters that they could use to discourage youngsters from buying eggs and flour.

"The posters were created in consultation with partner agencies and shopkeepers and displaying them is a choice for individual businesses."

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