Mall sticking to youth policy

The kids are back to school, but they are not back to unaccompanied wandering around Pine Centre Mall.

After the first few weeks of school, mall manager Sonya Hunt said she is more convinced than ever that the correct decision was made when a parenting policy was implemented in March.

The protocol dictates that no child under the age of 12 will be permitted in the mall unless accompanied by an adult who is within eye contact with that child.

If an unattended child is found, the mall will urge authorities (Ministry of Children and Family Development or the RCMP) to attempt to find the child's guardians, but if unsuccessful, those authorities will be called.

There are also measures in effect regarding disruptive congregations at mall entrances or in stores.

"It has worked extremely well," said Hunt. "I just had a meeting with our safety advisory board and the dialogue was that it is not perfect but much, much better. Fights are down, and the good behavior of youth is up, and so is the response by adults to their interactions with youth around the mall."

For more, see Monday's Citizen.