Guards take to the air in mall wars

Malcolm Stephens, sales and marketing executive at Fidelity Security Group, says a tactical air support unit, made up of specially trained members equipped with the latest technology, will be used to trace and fight criminals.

He says the unit's aim is to implement joint measures between Fidelity, shopping centre managements and the police.

“We are working as closely as possible with the relevant shopping malls, South African Police Service (SAPS) and the metro police to ensure that manpower and operational plans are in place for the festive season,” Stephens says.

Air support

The tactical air support unit that will operate in Gauteng before being extended to other regions will fly various routes and safeguard sites while sharing information with other security companies and the police.

“Subsequently, if an incident occurs, the unit will immediately dispatch and respond to such and notify all security networks within the area,” Stephens says.

He says it is an obligation for security companies to protect shopping malls and customers without hurting innocent people.

The initiative has been introduced to minimise the chances of killing innocent people during shootings between law enforcement agencies and criminals.

Michael Broughton, director of crime prevention at the Consumer Goods Council, says about 25 robberies take place at shopping centres every month. Five security personnel have been killed this year. In the past few months more than 20 criminals have been killed by police during robberies.

Extra deployment

SAPS spokeswoman Nonkululeko Mbatha says festive season operations are normally enhanced by the deployment of extra members, including metro police.

“I cannot disclose much on that, but security at malls is part of our ongoing operation. We are working closely with stakeholders, including the business sector, to fight attacks on shopping centres.”

Malls in Gauteng are the most likely to be robbed, especially during this time of the year.

Broughton says shopping centres lose about R4m due to armed robberies every year.

No firearms

While security guards working at malls will not be issued with rifles, his council supports the proposal to empower the police to respond more forcefully to dangerous criminals, he says.

“We do not want our customers and staff members to be killed by stray bullets; we will leave that to the police because they are trained for the job,” Broughton says.

Johan Burger, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, proposes that a small specialised reaction unit be posted outside malls to react forcefully after having received the relevant information from guards inside. Arming security guards at malls with heavy rifles is a dangerous exercise because the guards will be more inclined to shoot first, putting at risk the lives of innocent shoppers, says Burger.

“When the guards are armed, certain incidents might happen. They would be more inclined to shoot first and answer some questions later.”

There is nothing wrong with “the fighting fire with fire policy”, but it should be exercised responsibly, says Burger.

Successful clamp down

At the South African Council of Shopping Centres conference last week, Roy Andersen, board director of Business Against Crime, said a partnership with the police had resulted in dislocating crime, and in the arrest of more than 98 criminals in the last few weeks.

“This is an achievement and we need to give credit to the police,” Andersen said.

When releasing crime statistics this week, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said business robberies had gone up 41.5% in the 2008-09 financial year.

The biggest increases had been recorded in armed robberies at small and informal businesses, the minister said.

Source: Business Day

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