The changes took effect Saturday. In addition to the expanded age rule, retired Rhode Island State Police K-9s are now on site, and Pyramid Management Group, which operates the mall, said security will be staffed by employees with law enforcement and military backgrounds who have received advanced training in defensive tactics, gang recognition and crowd control.

Joe Paolino, a co-owner of Providence Place and a former mayor of Providence, said safety has been a central focus since he took over the property.

"I'll be walking, and no matter where I am, people say 'Gee, is the mall safe? Not safe?' People question it," Paolino said. "That's a goal of ours, to make it one of the safest shopping experiences you can have in Rhode Island."

Paolino has previously said security personnel will not necessarily be stationed at entrances checking identification, suggesting the policy is intended as much to set expectations as to screen every visitor.

The new protocols follow a series of incidents at the mall this year, including a pillow fight that escalated into a fistfight and an alleged attack in a bathroom in which two women said they were jumped by six suspects.

Pyramid Management Group said the approach mirrors a framework used at its other properties, including Destiny USA in Syracuse, New York. According to the company, that mall has seen a 50 percent reduction in property crime, a 75 percent reduction in overall incidents and a 90 percent average arrest rate under the protocols.

Shoppers interviewed at the mall Saturday offered mixed reactions. Robert Dais, a frequent visitor, said he has already noticed the increased presence.

"I feel safe, I see their security here and I'm glad that it's in place," Dais said. "I'm hoping the mall continues to beef up security."

Dais said the new rules strike a reasonable balance. "When I was young, I hung out at the mall too, so I can see that it's a great place to congregate with your friends, and I want that to be the case, but we also all deserve to be safe," he said. "It's just about finding that balance of safety but also allowing people to enjoy their freedoms."

Others objected to the age restriction. "I don't really think there should be an age restriction," said Susan Price. "Limiting that limits the things you can do with your friends when you're young."

Bailey Regan said the policy removes a rite of passage for local teenagers. "I know when I was a kid, I went to the mall all the time with my friends, it just felt like a bit of freedom," Regan said. "I just think that takes away the fun for other kids."

The debate reflects broader questions about how the city's flagship shopping center balances public access with private security, and whether age-based restrictions are an effective tool for reducing crime or simply displace young people who have few other places to gather.