In a bid to broaden its efforts at combating the ever escalating rate of crime in the area, Ghanzi police hosted a workshop on April 7, dubbed Business Community Workshop.
Business owners and managers from all sectors of the local economy and law enforcement agencies attended the workshop.
Outlining the purpose of the workshop, Ghanzi police station commander. Christopher Molobe. said it was meant to share knowledge and ideas concerning security issues and come up with ideas towards combating crime in his policing area.
He said they had invited security companies because their duty was to protect both businesses and homes thus the idea was to sensitise the business community about security systems which they could utilise to protect their businesses through mechanisms such as closed circuit television (CCTV).
He also said they wanted to impart knowledge on the business community, as well as improve partnerships with the public.
Mr Molobe said statistics had shown that crime was growing in the district as from 2013 and 2014, including cases of burglary, house breaking and shop breaking.
He said house breaking had grown by 14 per cent in his district, adding that this year alone they had experienced a lot of break-in case however, there was a new trend of crime involving safe blasting, he added.
He said some businesses had no security personnel or electronic systems in place, which made it easy for the culprits to enter such business premises and cause damage to property.
The director of PAINDER solutions, a company that installs intruder alarm systems, CCTV and computers, said it was important for businesses to have intruder alarm systems as they provided a warning of a possible intrusion thereby reducing fear among business owners.
He said it was important to have CCTV in businesses as it led to increased deterrent, staff protection and safer working environment as the employees would be adhering to safety rules knowing that cameras are watching them.
Mr Moolman has encouraged the business owners to install high quality security equipment so that they could capture almost everything which will help the police in their investigations in cases of break-ins.
He urged those who already had them to maintain and service them at least after every six months so that they are able to perform to their best abilities and are always up to date.
He encouraged the attendants to link electronic security systems with fire systems so that they released open the doors in cases of fire.
Crime Scene Investigator in Ghanzi Police Orefile Kolwane aised business owners to preserve crime scenes and that in some instances where blasting took place they should stay away from the scene until the arrival of police as they may contaminate the scene.
Labour officer from Deprtment of Labour and Social Security Ms Josephine Nfanyane has urged the business community to refrain from employing non-citizens who did not have work and resident’s permits.
She said anyone who did so contravened Section 22 (1) of the Immigration Act and that it was an offence liable to a fine not exceeding P4000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years, or to both.
She said business owners should make sure their non-citizen employees’ work permits bore their business names and not the previous employee’s company name.
She said work permits were obtained from the Department of Labour and Social Security and one has to pay P1500 and the resident permit could be applied for at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for P1500.
The business community complained about unlicensed vendors who sold cigarettes and liquor in front of their business saying it killed their businesses, particularly because they sold the same merchandise.
They urged the law enforcement officers to see if all the vendors had proper official documents to sell in such places because they inconvenienced their customers.
When was vital for the business community to work hand in hand with the police and where possible help them with the investigations.
He encouraged business owners to comply with what is stated on their trading licenses and their permits and adhere to the Trade and Liquor Act, adding that it was important for them to know and understand the law.
Source : BOPA
Source : Botswana Daily News