Business unites against robberies
29 June 2006South Africa's business community has created a special forum to increase co-operation between business groupings and the SA Police Service to combat cash-in-transit heists and robberies at banks and shopping centres in the country.
Business Against Crime South Africa and eight industry associations signed an agreement in Johannesburg this week establishing the Industry Alignment Forum Aggravated Robberies Initiative.
The forum will exchange ideas and information on robberies, analyse this information and share it with the police to assist in their investigations.
Speaking to journalists at the forum's launch, Business Against Crime CEO Kenny Fihla said detailed information about incidents, statistics, risk and common factors would be analysed, allowing specific action to be taken to prevent recurring crime.
"This forum enables all parties involved in the fight against crime to liaise and to act collectively to reduce crime," Fihla said. "It will reduce duplication of effort and costs in combating crime and improve relationships between the business sector, government and police."
Fihla said the forum would look at improving closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in major shopping centres, and establishing desks within shopping centres and banks to monitor people both inside and outside the premises.
"The physical design of shopping centres will also have to be improved," said Business Against Crime CEO Kenny Fihla. "The police will work with centres to do this as well as to educate staff on what to do when something does happen."
Business Against Crime's partners in the initiative are the Cash in Transit Forum, Casinos Association of SA, Consumer Goods Council of SA, Security Industry Alliance, SA Banking Risk Intelligence Centre, SA Council of Shopping Centres, SA Property Owners Association, and the SA Reserve Bank.
"The participants and Business Against Crime acknowledge that the co-operation of the government and its agencies is critical to the success of the Industry Alignment Forum Aggravated Robberies Initiative, and we are pleased by the SAPS interest and support," Fihla said.
"In line with [President Thabo Mbeki's] comments around crime, our democracy can only be strengthened if we all work in a co-ordinated manner to address the challenges that it poses."
SouthAfrica.info reporter and BuaNews
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