"No begging" signs are being trialled at a central Christchurch shopping precinct to stop "professional beggars" and improve the atmosphere, a property manager says.

The simple adhesive signs were displayed around the BNZ Centre two weeks ago, Colliers International property manager Andrew Barclay said. 

The signs feature a black circle containing the words "no begging".

The idea for the signs came from two homeless people who were invited to a multi-agency Safer Christchurch meeting about one month ago, Barclay said.  

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"They said a number of people would probably listen and therefore not be in front of the building.

"And we thought that's not a bad idea."

Barclay said the city's "begging issue" was longstanding, but the main problem was "professional beggars" who were not homeless and were "going after money" by hassling shoppers and customers. 

BNZ Centre owner Nick Hunt said the signs were put up to prevent incidents of violence and intimidation and "so that people knew it was unacceptable".

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF

Connor Galloway has been living on the streets for four years. He says the "no begging" signs at the BNZ Centre are "pretty sad".

Connor Galloway, 24, who has lived on the streets for four years, said he found the signs "pretty sad".

"It's like taking ... an honest way of getting some coin so ... you can at least eat for that night, so it's a hard ball, but I know how people feel like all threatened or ... intimidated by people asking them – which is why I don't ask."

He had moved from areas out of the public eye, including a graveyard, to the busy central city streets for safety. 

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF

Colliers International property manager Andrew Barclay says the anti-begging signs were suggested by two homeless people at a recent Safer Christchurch meeting.

Wendy's general manager Jatinder Singh said homeless people loitering outside his Hereford St premises hurt his business. 

"Some customers, they don't want to see that sort of thing. When you go out to a restaurant with your family and you want to have a nice experience ... those small things make a big difference."

He said the anti-begging signs had not made any difference. 

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF

"No begging" have been put up around the BNZ Centre, on Christchurch's Hereford St.

Mumbaiwala restaurant manager Krutik Patel said there had been three incidents involving homeless people in the past year. 

On one occasion, two people got into a staff member's car and stole his gold necklace.

Another time, several homeless people tried to enter the restaurant and swore at the female manager. She locked the door and rang police. 

In February, Patel said a homeless and drunk man kicked his parked car and dented it. A nearby police officer saw the incident and arrested the man. 

Patel was unaware the "no begging" signs had been put up, but said he did not support them. 

"Unless they are causing any incidents those signs shouldn't be up."

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF

Galloway says begging is an "honest way" to get money for food and he doesn't harass people to give him anything.

Police do not record the housing status of offenders and could not say how many call outs, charges or arrests there had been involving homeless people in the city in the last year. 

Acting prevention Inspector Paul Reeves said begging was not illegal but police would respond if there was an incident. 

Methodist Mission manager Jill Hawkey said "no begging" signs were not helpful in creating inclusive communities.  

"It just further marginalises people by putting up those kinds of signs because it's saying really we don't want those kinds of people there."

 - Stuff