Pretoria - As part of reducing crime in the banking, consumer goods and retail sectors, police have entered into a partnership with business to eliminate crime hotspots, share knowledge, expertise and experience between them.
On Tuesday, police signed a pledge with the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality and the Community Police Forum which commits the parties to work together.
The pledge would also enhance a multi-disciplinary approach at a strategic level, and implementation of all ensuing strategies and projects at an operational level.
“This multidisciplinary approach to doing things will include sharing of information and intelligence in combatting consumer goods-related crimes and ensure the successful prosecution of offenders committing crimes against the members of the council,” police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said.
The CGCSA, which represents various stakeholders in the consumer goods industry such as the manufacturers, transporters and retailers of consumer goods, has been badly affected as its members were at times being repeatedly robbed, both at the malls and while in transit.
Over and above these robberies, Naidoo said shopliftings have become the norm for retailers and, as a result, major retailers are reportedly losing hefty amounts of cash annually.
Police say Alberton, which falls under the Ekurhuleni Metro in Gauteng's east rand, has been badly affected by these crimes.
For its part, Naidoo said the SAPS pledges to “work together to stabilise and normalise the situation in Alberton in terms of the agreed quick win intervention plans adopted between SAPS, SABRIC and CGCSA to specifically focus on crimes in the banking, consumer goods and retail sectors." - SAnews.gov.za
