The controversial tactics came to light after a group, including a 15 year-old girl was approached by a young man and a woman in a park near Gadlas Road, Llysfaen, Colwyn Bay on Saturday, May 3.

Her father, who asked the Pioneer to withhold his name, said his daughter was chatting in a group of four teenagers.
"These two characters called out 'come here' to the group and our daughter feared she was going to be beaten up, or they were going to steal her purse or try to sell her drugs."

The hooded pair asked the teenagers who they were, where they were from and if they were attending a party in Abergele.
They then flashed Police ID cards and told the youngsters it was 'time to go home.'

The furious father of the teenager described the radical move by the police as "underhanded scaremongering."
"It was before 9pm and we knew where she was and were in contact with her on her mobile phone. It is all very well flashing an ID card, but how can anyone tell whether it is fake or genuine."

The youngster was extremely upset after the encounter and was reassured by her parents.

Her father added: " "Why do they need all these stunts? This is not Hollyoaks, it is the real world. We need to get back to having bobbies on the beat in their proper uniforms.
That was a deterrent to bad behaviour when I was a teenager and it would be a deterrent today."

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: "It is possible that the two people involved could have been police officers as we occasionally have officers on patrol in plain clothing. Certain methods have been introduced in the Colwyn Bay area to combat crime."

Llysfaen Cllr Deion Smith called for changes in policing in the area and described the incident as "regrettable."

Colwyn Bay Cllr Chris Hughes supported the new methods and argued police need to have a degree of latitude in order to engage with youngsters and protect the public.

He stressed anti social behaviour had become such an issue that radical steps need to be taken.

The new approach to policing has been revealed following the announcement that dispersal orders will be introduced in Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn from Monday, May 19.

Police will have powers to move on groups of youngsters or adults congregating in an area if they suspect possible disorder or harassment, individuals will be escorted to their home address or asked not to return to an area within a certain time limit.