SINGAPORE — The announcement of increased police patrols around Golden Mile Complex has left shop owners and residents in the area unfazed, as they say the migrant workers who usually gather there have not caused any trouble.

The shopping centre and its surroundings — long favoured by Thai workers — were among the areas specifically selected by the police for stepped-up patrols, in addition to other measures rolled out in the aftermath of last Sunday’s riot in Little India.

But all seven residents in the neighbourhood TODAY interviewed yesterday said they did not feel bothered by the droves of Thai workers gathered at the mall or under nearby Housing and Development Board blocks to buy groceries, remit money or meet up with friends for food and drinks, particularly on weekends.

These workers mostly keep to themselves and have not had many fights in recent memory, they said. “If they get drunk, they just sleep — they don’t create trouble,” said Mr Tan, 50, a resident who visits the mall almost twice a week.

Mr Tan Shan Shui, 60, said that his only grouse was that some do not clean up after themselves or urinate indiscriminately.

Daily patrols, which auxiliary police officers have been conducting for the past three years or so, also help, and others noted that the mall is already frequently patrolled by security guards and police officers.

Some of these auxiliary police officers were spotted while on patrol at Block 5, Beach Road opposite Golden Mile yesterday and they agreed that the Thai workers were “not so rowdy”.

Retiree David Lee, 71, added: “They can be a little noisy but they are not rowdy. If they can’t come here, where can they go to?”

Within Golden Mile Complex, TODAY counted about 20 shops and food outlets selling alcohol, with beer going for around S$2 per can and hard liquor for about S$30 a bottle. But the shops also sell Thai provisions, such as fish sauce and seaweed, unlike in Little India, where this newspaper found at least three shops selling only liquor. In the nearby residential area, there were about five shops selling alcohol, but they also sold other provisions.

Madam Parichari Kin, who owns Porn & Spa, said she had not seen any fights in her five years running a business at Golden Mile. While some agree that a heightened police presence would bring about a greater sense of security, Mr Chalerm Shomsi, 28, who works at Golden Mile, felt it could frighten away the workers and that would be bad for business.