Improved security standards and measures to reduce the risk of violent organised crime at shopping and retail centres were recently discussed at a meeting of shopping centre owner and managing companies. The meeting was called by the Shopping Centre Security Initiative (SCSI) and hosted by Business Against Crime South Africa.
Agreement was reached on improved security standards and measures required for implementation across shopping centres. In particular cash management practices and more effective crime prevention and detection measures were tackled as part of an overall plan to reduce violent crime at shopping centres.
"The prevalence of violent crime in general is of serious concern to the government, the business sector and all law abiding citizens of the country," says Jenny Irish-Qhobosheane, projects manager for the SCSI at Business Against Crime.
The SCSI was established in 2006 and is a partnership between the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC), South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (GCGSA) and Business Against Crime.
The SCSI is designed to formulate effective partnerships between retailers and shopping centre management and owners as well as the government in order to resolve the challenges posed by violent crime.
"The initiative also enables the sharing of information, capacities and services among shopping centres and other role players and stakeholders," says Irish-Qhobosheane. "It works closely with other businesses and is an integral part of the Big Business Working Group's focus on violent organised crime."
The SCSI seeks to reduce opportunities for violent crime through:
* Reducing vulnerabilities and eliminating opportunities for violent crime at shopping centres.
* Identifying and effectively implementing joint preventative measures aimed at reducing opportunities for cash robberies and to ensure mutual support and co-operation between government and the shopping centres.
* Establishing and implementing appropriate governance structures and mechanisms which enhance the impact of the collective approach to violent crime at shopping centres.
* Improving information with respect to violent crime between all stakeholders, including the public, shopping centre management, property owners of shopping centres and Government.
* Monitoring the success of the strategy and developing interventions where necessary.
The SCSI is also aimed at providing both shopping centres and managing and owner companies with a number of concrete deliverables including:
* An early warning system which would assist shopping centres with identifying their immediate risk.
* Shopping centres and managing and owner companies receiving information on trends and lessons learned regarding violent crime at shopping centres.
* Enhancing relations between shopping centres, managing and owner companies and the police, both with regard to crime prevention and the investigation of incidents.
* Developing clear patterns of the different security risks facing shopping centres and to inform shopping centres on measures that can be taken to reduce these risks.
* Developing a set of best practice examples with regard to security at shopping centres.
* Developing a set of best practice examples with regard to security processes to be followed at shopping centres.
* Developing a policy document on cash management procedures that could be implemented by shopping centres.
* Working with shopping centres that experience repeat victimisation to develop measures to reduce their risks.
"This initiative is unique in its nature as it demonstrates the value of co-operation in terms of public private partnerships," said Irish-Qhobosheane. "It also highlights the seriousness with which business views security at shopping centres."
Managing and owner companies reiterated their full commitment to the eradication of violent crime and the creation of a safe shopping environment at the meeting. Significant resources have been committed to securing shopping centres. Large financial contributions have also been made in the general fight against crime.
Jenny Irish-Qhobosheane will be presenting at Retail Risk 2008, the Consumer Goods Council Technews Publishing’s retail security conference to be held next year in Cape Town on 26 February, in Durban on 28 February and in Johannesburg on 4 March.
For more information contact Business Against Crime South Africa, +27 (0)11 883 0717, [email protected], South African Council of Shopping Centres, +27 (0)82 600 5962, [email protected], Consumer Goods Council Crime Prevention Programme, +27 (0)11 781 5466, [email protected]
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