Crime decreases at shopping centres

Tracey Fowler, GM of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) which heads up the initiative, says it has been encouraging that the first round had shown such a measure of success.

"And now that the festive season is over, as a body, we will be moving into developing effective processes and procedures to have a greater and more sustainable impact on violent crime at shopping centres," she says.

Growing urgency

The Shopping Centre Security Initiative (SCSI) resulted from growing urgency for action within the shopping centre industry and other concerned groups, and late last year, Business Against Crime South Africa (BAC) appointed a project manager, Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane, to create and implement security strategies to combat violent crime at shopping centres.

The formal establishment of the SCSI involves Business Against Crime South Africa (BAC), the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC), the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), the South African Police Service and the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA).

In the lead-up to the festive season, the SCSI worked on providing guidelines for shopping centres to deal with crime prevention, action during an incident, and post-incident management. In both KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng - the two provinces worst affected by violent crime at shopping centres - meetings were held with the SAPS.

Decline in incidents

At the meetings, shopping centres in these provinces received details on police plans and who to contact during emergencies. Tracey Fowler says, "The SCSI, in reviewing the festive season, feels that generally, although there were some incidents experienced by shopping centres, there was a decline in violent incidents."

"However, one of the problems the initiative has faced is the absence of records against which to measure the increase or decline in the number and impact of violent incidents. This problem is in the process of being rectified to enable assessment on a monthly basis, and to identify trends and problem areas that need to be addressed.

"We are relying on the enormous expertise and experience that Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane brings to this group that is already forming up to an effective professional force, passionate about the outcome of this effort. Its success relies on being able to respond to the data effectively, and now we have every prospect of being able to do so," she continues.

Effective partnerships

The SCSI aims to promote effective partnerships between retailers and shopping centre management and owners, and between shopping centres and Government to fight crime and share resources.

Among its objectives is reducing vulnerabilities at shopping centres through eliminating opportunities for violent crime; identifying and effectively implementing joint plans to reduce opportunities for cash robberies, and to ensure mutual support and co-operation between government and the shopping centres.

The body will also work towards gaining the active co-operation of everyone affected by violent crime in shopping centres, and to improve communication about cash robberies to all concerned, including the public, shopping centre management, owners of shopping centres and government.

It will monitor the success or otherwise of the strategy and, where necessary, instigate action.