BUSINESSES HIRE SECURITY FIRM TO MOVE BEGGARS ALONG

Vancouver Store Owners Report Positive Results As Security Guards
Evict Panhandlers And Addicts From Private Property

VANCOUVER - A group of concerned downtown businesses is joining
forces to step up security outside their shops as aggressive
panhandlers create increasing problems by accosting customers and employees.

Some 25 businesses have taken crime prevention into their own hands by
hiring a private security company to patrol their premises and remove
beggars.

The area is already patrolled by Vancouver police and the Downtown
Ambassadors, men and women in red uniforms trained to provide
information and crime prevention services to people and businesses.

But many say the Downtown Ambassadors are being stretched beyond their
means. Unlike the hired security guards, the Ambassadors do not have
the authority to move people off private property.

Chris Taibinger, vice-president of operations for Genesis -- the
security company hired by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement
Association -- said two licensed guards will patrol along Granville
Street Monday to Saturday from noon until 8 p.m.

Having received permission from local businesses to enforce the
Trespass Act, the security company has been granted the authority to
ask people to leave the area if they are on private property.

Genesis guards started patrolling the downtown core on Aug. 14, and
local businesses are already noticing a difference.

"The store owners are loving it," said Taibinger. "By Day 2 they were
telling us how much it has helped clean up the area and change the
attitudes of street people."

Taibinger said Genesis is now in talks with other store owners
interested in joining the agreement.

The new security patrol arrived just as leaders of Vancouver's tourism
industry warned Vancouver's reputation as a safe tourist and
convention destination is in danger because of aggressive beggars.

The DVBIA has long been aware of the problem, which is why they
started the Ambassador program over five years ago. But operations
manager Bill Sykes said they are there primarily to act as a
deterrent, not as law enforcement.

"Their first function is to assist tourists with information," Sykes
said. "They do not have power to do anything other than what you or I
can do."

Even so, shops have been calling on the Ambassadors for help to remove
panhandlers from their doorsteps.

"They've helped us out a lot in the last while with people hanging
around in front of the store," said Mike Hansen, acting manager of A&B
Sound on Seymour Street.

"A lot of times we actually get people shooting up right in the front
entrance.

"It's pretty intimidating for the customers. They're loading up a TV
they just bought and there's four or five guys hanging out there,
often doing drugs."

One Downtown Ambassador, who didn't want to be identified other than
her call sign, Bravo 2, said they get "lots of phone calls every day"
from store owners about beggars and drug users.

"We mostly just talk to them," she said. "If they won't listen to that
and the situation requires it, we call the police."

The DVBIA has reported street crime is on the decline, but Bravo 2
says her experiences speak the opposite.

"I think street crime is getting worse, not better," she said. "I
think they're getting more aggressive."

Right beside Bravo 2, a panhandler named Guy sat quietly on the corner
of Granville and West Georgia with his hat out. He said he's been
living on the streets of Vancouver for a few years.

"I don't think anyone should be aggressive in any manner towards
anyone, unless you're defending yourself," Guy said.

"But I think guys get aggressive because they're sick and tired of
being ignored, and they're hungry, and they want to get high on
whatever drug they're on."