A business association has hired two security guards to patrol Glenmall shops from today.

Glen Eden Business Association town centre manager Jennifer Conlon says this year they have invested $35,000 towards CCTV cameras and security guards in the area.

She says this is the first time the association has employed more than one guard during the lead-up to Christmas.

MAHVASH ALI/FAIRFAX NZ Glenmall now has security guards until Christmas.

Reports of aggressive begging were behind the decision. But a number of assaults have also beset the centre.

On December 10, a group of girls attacked a member of the public at Glenmall Place. During the assault one of the offenders allegedly snatched a man's phone and smashed it to the ground.

The victim says she suffered bruises on her arm and leg in the attack that lasted about 25 minutes.

MAHVASH ALI/FAIRFAX NZ Jennifer Conlon says Glen Eden Business Association has hired two security guards to patrol Glenmall Shopping Centre.

"Is it going to take a murder before someone does something about Glenmall Place?" asked a member of the public.

A police spokesperson said around 5pm on December 10 police were called to an address in Glen Eden as there were reports of large group of people fighting. When police arrived most of those involved quickly left the scene. Police broke up the fight and spoke with witnesses.

Prior to this two female youths had gone into a liquor store in Glen Eden and allegedly taken some alcohol. The matter is still under investigation and there is no further information available at this stage, police said.

Mahvash Ali Glenmall Place in Glen Eden is a great spot for shopping, local retailers say.

In another incident, a fight broke out between six youths on West Coast Rd at 2.30pm on a weekday last month.

The Glen Eden Business Association has handed over CCTV footage from both incidents to the police.

"One of the issues that really bothers us is that our guards have no jurisdiction on council land and most of this area belongs to them," Conlon says.

MAHVASH ALI Daniel Pahlavon says Glenmall Shopping Centre is quite busy.

Funding for the security measures including hiring the security officers comes from local retailers and The Trusts Community Foundation.

The town centre manager says private officers can only issue trespass notices to troublemakers when they are inside a shop.

"If it happens on the pavement or outside in a council area all we can do is ring the police. We can also call council who take 30 minutes to get here."

Conlon says they find themselves ringing the authorities on a daily basis.

"This year has been particularly hard."

Daniel Pahlavon is a security guard hired by The Glen bar in the shopping centre.

He says last week a teenager threatened him with a machete after he tried to stop him for "making trouble" in the area.