A shopping centre has denied banning youths on Friday afternoons to curb antisocial behaviour, despite a police officer claiming he had provided support to keep kids out.

Police Scotland constable Ewan Hannay told a West Lothian Council committee last week that security staff at The Centre Livingston had brought in a temporary ban to stop youngsters from gathering at the mall on Friday afternoons.

PC Hannay said: “They have temporarily implemented a ban on any youths between 10 and 16 getting access on a Friday afternoon, and we’ve assisted them with that on the doors during that period.”

In a statement to Sky News, the shopping centre denied the ban but did not clarify what measures have been put in place to combat bad behaviour.

A spokesperson said: “The Centre Livingston does not have any restrictions on young people shopping with us on Friday afternoons.”

‘Some of it’s pretty violent’

At the Livingston North Local Area Committee meeting on Friday, Labour councillor Anne McMillan stated that reported antisocial behaviour at the shopping centre was “getting really bad”.

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She added: “Some of it’s pretty violent with the fighting and things.”

PC Hannay claimed officers had been liaising with the centre’s management and assisting security over the past few weekends.

A scheme has also been implemented in which identified troublemakers will be banned from the mall and a letter sent home to their parents or carers.

Senior police and centre management have also met with MSP Angela Constance and MP Hannah Bardell to discuss the issue.

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‘It’s going to continue unfortunately’

PC Hannay claimed that the situation is beginning to improve, but added: “It’s going to continue unfortunately, [because] what you’ve got is it’s the centre of a travel hub for all the outlying areas of West Lothian and it’s easy to come, it’s [an] easy place to gather.

“But we are aware and we are trying to identify those youths that are the minority that are causing the issue which is ruining it for the vast majority of the kids who are generally well-behaved.

“So, we are trying to target that.”

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Councillor McMillan, who chaired the meeting, thanked the officer and said the council would be “keeping an eye on it”.

‘It will not be tolerated and action will be taken’

Inspector Brendan McMahon, from Livingston Police Station, said: “We are aware of the disruptive effect antisocial behaviour has on the local community and we are committed to encouraging people away from this kind of behaviour.

“It will not be tolerated and action will be taken when incidents are reported to us.

“Whilst any decisions around bans are strictly for the premises in question and their security teams, we will continue to support them to prevent disorder and respond to any escalation.”

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