Police have imposed a temporary dispersal order at Mostyn Champneys Retail Park in Llandudno following reports of persistent anti-social behaviour.

The order was authorised by District Inspector Catherine Walker on Tuesday evening and covers a designated area of the retail park. It came into force at 9.03pm on Tuesday, 27 October, and is due to remain in place until 9.03pm tonight (Wednesday, 28 October).

The powers allow police officers and designated police community support officers to direct individuals to leave the area if they believe their presence is contributing to, or is likely to contribute to, anti-social behaviour, crime or disorder.

Anyone given a direction to leave must comply and may also be prohibited from returning to the area for a specified period.

Failure to comply with a lawful direction is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £2,500, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.

Inspector Walker said police would not tolerate groups gathering at the retail park in ways that intimidated shoppers or involved anti-social behaviour at retail premises.

She also urged parents and carers to know where young people were and to make them aware of the restrictions.

The order is intended to give officers additional powers to address behaviour affecting shoppers, retailers and others using the site.

Dispersal orders are a short-term policing measure and do not automatically mean that everyone gathering in the designated area is committing an offence. The powers are used where the legal conditions for intervention are met.

The order applies only to the area designated by police and expires at 9.03pm on Wednesday unless further action is taken.