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DEALING WITH WHITE COLLAR CRIME
INTRODUCTION
The incidence of crime in South Africa is now assuming epidemic proportions. While all crime gives rise to concern, it is particularly those crimes involving dishonesty which are really eating away at the very fabric of business and government ethics and which are threatening the foundations upon which our economic system is built.
Although the classification that we are discussing would include common theft, the area of particular concern is that which is commonly known as "white collar crime". This is a very broad category but in essence we are talking about fraud, bribery and corruption. We are concerned with those crimes of commission and omission which are both actual and intended. It is a fact, that in white collar crime, the potential rewards are greater, the risk of detection is lower, successful prosecution is more difficult and finally, in the main, the penalties are less severe. These are all sound "business" reasons for both local criminals and large international crime syndicates to put their efforts into this type of crime.
It is a sad, but very true fact, that the South African Police Services, and in particular the Commercial Branch, cannot cope now, and in the foreseeable future, with the ever increasing tide of white collar crime in the country. The statistics are horrific, and even these are grossly understated as contemporary wisdom has it that only about 20% of white collar crime is actually reported. The Commercial Branch of the South African Police Services readily admit that there is a crisis in this respect and that without the active support and tangible assistance of business and government organisations, they will not be able to control the situation.
Business against Crime strongly believes that there is a dire need for organisations in this Country to work towards the creation of an ethical business environment, to adopt preventative measures against white collar crime; and in the event of an attack, to have a contingency plan which sets out what needs to be done, when and by whom. This pamphlet has been prepared with these aims in mind.