Security Associates Ltd is attempting to tackle the issue of vagrants in the City of Hamilton by introducing a new mobile patrol.Since last Monday, Sonya Smith and Andrew Tucker have been riding bicycles around the town, moving vagrants from storefronts and discouraging them from harassing members of the public.Said the company’s director of operations, Derek Farquharson: “Our job is to serve as a deterrent to vagrants at premises that we view are being affected by the vagrants.“We are being assertive and discouraging this activity so they would be turned off of the activity. The idea is we are going to be there before you and, sooner or later, you are not going to want to be there.“What we are saying is that they have become a nuisance to us and we will be a nuisance to them. They will have to assess what their tolerance level is.”Mr Farquharson said that since the programme has launched, the company has responded to numerous calls and e-mails to deal with vagrants begging or sleeping in the entranceways of various businesses.Should a situation become heated there is an alarm response and support unit available to provide backup.Police are also only a phone call away, said Carlton Crockwell, Security Associates’ chief operating officer.“We have the blessing of the police to give them a call. They are supportive of what we are doing,” he said.“Visitors and residents have a right to walk down the street and not get pestered, and our teams are out there preventing that from happening.”He said that the patrols have already had a positive impact on the townWhile he said that the parks and Front Street, along with Church Street near the bus terminal are particular hot spots for vagrant activity, other areas have already seemed to clear out.“We’ve already seen the ferry terminal area clean up a bit. Two weeks ago this was a problem area, but the vagrants have moved on.”He explained that the bicycle team patrol the town repeatedly during the day starting at 6am on every day except Sunday, with extra emphasis during the lunch and dinner periods.However, he noted that Security Associates representatives are available 24-yours a day for clients should something happen in the middle of the night.He also emphasised that the employees on patrol have all received extensive in-house training in how to deal with situations, and how to address and conduct themselves in a way that encourages the vagrants to move without being confrontational.So far, 15 clients have signed on to be covered by the mobile patrol. Each premises is marked by a Security Associates’ sticker. With the early success, Mr Crockwell said he hopes to expand service into North Hamilton later this summer.Ms Smith said that most of the vagrants now leave as soon as she and her partner arrive in an area.“The other day Jynx was cursing me out, saying, ‘Why do you always bother me?’,” Ms Smith said. “I told him it was because he was bothering other people. Then I asked if he wanted to take a picture with me.“Of course, this morning he was cussing me again. I think most of them understand that I’m just doing my job.”During her patrols, Ms Smith said she has been repeatedly approached by visitors asking about how to get around the Island, to the extent where she now carries a bus schedule on her as she does her rounds.