84 border police to be employed at JIA By Gavin du Venage BUSINESS AGAINST Crime (BAC) has drawn up a 22-point list of security criteria to safeguard cargo at Johannesburg International Airport, and plans to boycott companies which do not adhere to them.
BAC spokesman Peter Introna told FTW that the checklist would drastically cut down on airport crime.
If everybody adheres to the points on the list it will be almost impossible to steal cargo from the airport, he said.
A regular security audit will be carried out to enforce the list. Although compliance is voluntary, Introna said importers would be encouraged to avoid companies that did not apply it.
We will publish the names of companies that apply the list. The names of those who don't will soon become known and they will lose business, he said.
BAC was also working closely with the border police. Introna said at least 84 dedicated border police trained in cargo protection would be employed at the airport within the next two months.
A commander had already been appointed and the unit structure worked out.
BAC was holding talks with the unit to establish what infrastructure it needed. Electronic scanners and other equipment would be provided by business, he said.
Introna said BAC would also meet South African Revenue Services c.e.o Piet Liebenberg this week to discuss the implementation of electronic documentation.
He said BAC would make a presentation on possible electronic data information systems to Liebenberg.
Introna said he expected these measures to cut back on theft from within the airport. Heightened awareness of crime had already seen incidents of theft reduced over the past few months, he said.
