Focus
SECURITY IN THE TRANSPORT/ LOGISTICS INDUSTRY By Ray Mancini
Ray Mancini is an internationally known trainer, professional security consultant and is the CEO of SIG GROUP Inc Ltd, which has been providing security services to the transport industry for the past nine years, with clients such as Star Track, Toll Group, Australian Air Express, Centurion Transport, TNT and the US Navy.
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his article examines issues around security in the transport industry. Whilst it does not provide allencompassing solutions to the problems, it does provide, in the author’s opinion, simple, cost-effective and achievable solutions that focus on the five key topics. If utilised wisely, these solutions could provide companies with an opportunity to not only protect their brand, but also possibly generate increased revenues.
Organised Crime Organised crime is increasingly found in industries where there is traditionally little awareness of, or exposure to, organised crime activities, where gaps in regulations can be exploited and/or where the penalties for crime are not sufficient to deter criminal behaviour. The transport industry presents opportunities for this exploitation by organised crime (Australian Crime Commission, 2007). From the author’s own experience, organised crime members have been able to infiltrate companies as an owneroperator contractor or as a contract truck driver. One transport company employed a contract truck company to transport their freight locally; however, this company’s owner had strong links to an organised crime syndicate and employed members from his group. Importantly, there is no dedicated national law enforcement unit targeting or combating organised theft of freight within Australia, especially involving organised crime gangs which has permitted these crime syndicates to flourish. Previously, a joint venture by Australian Federal Police (AFP), customs and various state law enforcement agencies created the RAFT project (Reduce Aviation Freight Theft), which introduced a multiagency approach to investigating aviation theft. However, this project was abandoned in most states and the intelligence was handled by AFP in Canberra. (To the author’s knowledge, Queensland is the only state that still maintains the RAFT project that involves security employees from transport companies). 4
WATM • July 2020
While it is acknowledged that many state’s law enforcement services do have a ‘gang crime squad’, many crimes perpetrated within the transport/logistic industries are often not reported or are overlooked by the police due to the crimes themselves being a lower priority, or there being a lack of avenues of inquiry. The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) is a unique forum that unites global manufacturers, logistics providers, freight carriers, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders with the common aim of reducing losses from international supply chains. According to the European Union, the theft of highvalue, high-risk products moving in supply chains in Europe costs business in excess of 8.2 billion Euro a year. The threat from organised criminals is increasing and becoming more violent (TAPA). Recommendations: • Re-create and implement the RAFT project, including the Joint Aviation Investigation Team (JAIT), on both a national and state level, involving both road and aviation transport companies and the respective security companies. • Provide continual security awareness training for employees and security personnel to reduce apathy displayed by employees and managers in the respective transport companies. • Provide TAPA training to staff and adopt TAPA’s minimum security standards; undertake regular auditing of security by a qualified TAPA auditor or security personnel trained in TAPA certification standards.
Terrorism Transport companies have transformed into transnational companies, providing international freight services across the globe. As such, dramatic increases have occurred in the demand for express service delivery of international freight using aviation services, including both freighter and passenger aircraft. This increased demand increases the risks of terrorist activities within this area.
Whilst the transport industry already has measures in place, such as screening and security checks, to reduce the risks of IEDs and other explosives or chemicals being loaded onto aircraft, criminals and terrorists continue to improvise methods to circumvent detection strategies. Many governments have made it mandatory for improved freight screening and security procedures to prevent breaches. Supply chain security for air cargo is regulated in Australia under the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005. It is administered under the Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RACA) and Accredited Air Cargo Agent (AACA) schemes. • cargo terminal operators at airports • express post services • freight forwarders (including express freight companies) • regular international postal services In Australia, surface (road) transport security arrangements are under state and territory jurisdiction, with OTS working to coordinate the dissemination of best practice information on security measures. Implementation of preventative security measures is the responsibility of owners and operators of the individual transport companies. Recommendations: • Provide training/information for transport operators and employees in relation to RACA and security awareness for the security of their freight. • Provide updated and continual training for security and transport employees (company or contract) in the areas of transport/logistics and aviation security requirements, including RACA and other regulatory or convention requirements, including the ‘unknown shipper process’. • Use suitably trained and qualified security guards to provide professional and quality guarding services within the transport/logistics industry.
Theft of freight Criminals use employees to gain intelligence or provide information as to
