Beginning to monitor everyone in shopping precinct (4)
I believe the answer is:
mall
'shopping precinct' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'beginning to monitor everyone' is the wordplay.
'beginning to' indicates taking the first letters.
'everyone' becomes 'all' (I've seen this before).
The initial letter of 'monitor' is 'm'.
'm'+'all'='MALL'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for mall that I've seen before include "Covered complex of shops or path by a canal" , "Shopping precinct" , "Sheltered walk or promenade" , "Pedestrian shopping area" , "Public walk" .)