Collaboration the only way to crack down on crime

Robberies and truck

hijackings are on

the increase and

analysis has shown

that these challenges can

no longer be

overcome

individually

but must

be tackled

as part of a

collaborative

approach

where retailers,

logistics service

providers and

the police work together.

“Looking at the data since

the Consumer Goods Crime

Risk Initiative (CGCRI) – a

private sector collaboration

with the SA Police service –

was launched over six years

ago, we can see the number

of arrests increasing,” said

Dr Graham Wright, head of

department at the Consumer

Goods Council, speaking

at the Transport Forum

Special Interest Group

held earlier

this month in

Johannesburg.

He said this

was significant

because truck

hijackings

and business

robberies were

primarily

operated

by syndicates. “The

more arrests made, the

closer we get to cracking

down on the syndicates,”

commented Wright, adding

that statistics had shown

that consumer goods were

increasingly being targeted

by criminals.

Last year, the SAPS

reported 19 170 robberies

against retail and business

and over 800 truck

hijackings.

“And these figures

could be even higher as

we know that crime is

often under-reported,

particularly with regard

to truck hijackings,” said

Wright, pointing out that

this was due to a number

of reasons, including a lack

of confidence in the police

and a reluctance by f leet

operators or cargo owners

to expose themselves to

scrutiny.

This however leaves those

trying to crack down on

the crimes even more in

the dark. “It is only once

the whole picture is shared

and we understand the full

nature of the crime that

an effective collaborative

strategy can be established,”

said Wright.

He acknowledged the

fact that competitors

were hesitant to share

information that

could compromise the

competitiveness of a

logistics service but pointed

out that “crime is a noncompetitive

issue”.

According to Wright,

SA’s top five consumer

goods retailers – who

participate in the CGCRI –

willingly share information

on best practice and lessons

learnt around the security

of their supply chains as

they have seen the results

of collaboration.

INSERT & CAPTION

Crime is a noncompetitive

issue.

– Graham Wright