... but the investment is well worth it
THE COLLECTIVE crime-busting initiatives undertaken at City Deep by the container industry
in conjunction with the SA Police Services is a text book example of the benefits of the community working hand in glove with
the police against a common threat. With three successful projects behind them, and a syndicate mastermind and
four policemen awaiting trial, the stakeholders are more committed than ever, FTW's Joy Orlek discovered.
NOW IN its fifth year, the community and SA Police Service project at City Deep represents the combined commitment of its stakeholders - Transnet, Roadwing, Safmarine, MSC and SACD - in the fight against crime.
When import and export containers started arriving at their destinations half full, with falsified container seals, Roadwing decided that enough was enough and approached the parties who have now kept the project going since 1996.
The original project Buxie cost the stakeholders R2 million. These funds were used among other things to build a mobile police station at the City Deep exit gate which is manned by the SA border police.
A further two successful projects have since been undertaken - Project Scavenger in 1999 and Project Fox Hunt this year. Their success is largely a result of the trust between the community and the police force.
The community supplies information via a network of management and workers, and the police are responsible for prosecuting the criminals.
The most important element of crime combat is to identify the modus operandi of the criminal and then block access to him.
Container crime is syndicated. It's a planned action by intelligent people who need access to information, the movement of containers, and the contents. And for that they buy your company staff. They also need established outlets for their stolen goods. And they need information within the SAPS to avoid arrest, says Roadwing's Isobel Louw.
While stakeholders realise that they are not immune, they will use all information available to take proactive steps to protect their customers' goods.
Each employs a full time risk manager and finances special projects when needed.
The amount in a normal crime-free year amounts to R350 000 per company. When faced with a major threat additional funds of up to R500 000 per company might be needed.
But when you consider that the value of one container load of goods ranges from R120 000 to R6-m, the investment is well worth it, says Louw.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
