Denver police plan to increase panhandling enforcement on 16th Street Mall

　　The Denver Police Department plans to increase its panhandling enforcement on the 16th Street Mall after receiving reports of aggressive panhandling by groups known as “urban travelers.”

　　The increased enforcement comes as the police department and Downtown Denver Partnership prepare to roll out a new security plan that includes the hiring of a security manager, said Tami Door, the downtown partnership’s president.

　　Concerns about aggressive panhandling and mall security increased after Fox 31 Denver broadcast a video of panhandlers harassing and assaulting a downtown office worker. Officials said the incident is concerning.

　　Despite reports of aggressive panhandling, arrests on the 16th Street Mall have dropped this year. Between January and June 14, 522 people were arrested on the mall, a 7.6 percent decline for the same period in 2015, according to Denver police statistics.

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　　Denver police statistics show 52 adults have been charged with panhandling between January 2015 and June 14. Of those, just over half were charged with aggressive panhandling.

　　But that’s a small percentage of the overall number of adults arrested on the mall. During that period, 1,729 arrests were made for everything from smoking marijuana, shoplifting and people picked up on warrants from other counties.

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　　Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson described the aggressive panhandlers as “urban travelers,” young, homeless people who travel to different urban areas around the country.

　　The Downtown Denver Partnership has been working on its new security plan for about six months. It was not driven by any particular crime trend but arose from an overall concern about the quality of life in the heart of Denver, Jackson said.

　　The security plan doesn’t involve just adding more uniforms and badges on downtown streets, Door said. It will include plans for things such as better lighting and tips on what businesses can do to help themselves.