They're apt to be cracked when the law is broken by eccentrics (7)

I believe the answer is:

walnuts

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'they're apt to be cracked when' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'law is broken by eccentrics' is the wordplay.
'is broken by' indicates anagramming the letters (a broken form of the letters).
'eccentrics' becomes 'nuts' (nut is a kind of eccentric).
'law' anagrammed gives 'wal'.
'wal'+'nuts'='WALNUTS'

'the' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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