Tips against criminal interference in my business.
Preventing criminal interference starts with recognizing signs and deviant behavior. Below are practical tips to protect your company and employees from criminal interference.
Scroll down for all the tips!
- Dark corners are attractive for illegal activities because criminals stay out of sight there. Make sure your interior and exterior lighting is working properly and regularly check that all dark areas on your property are well lit.
- Limit access to your premises. Who is allowed in where? Make sure only authorized people have access to specific areas.
- Be alert to companies that supply at unrealistically low prices yet continue to invest. This may indicate unfair or illegal practices. Don’t trust it? Report it, anonymously if necessary.
- Ensure that only your staff receive access codes and passes and provide clear instructions on their use. When loading and unloading, only allow employees who really need to be there. Ensure that login codes and passes are not left lying around and speak to employees if they do.
- Be alert to customers exhibiting abnormal behavior, such as not allowing them to be with the load or suddenly wanting to pay in cash. This may indicate illegal practices. Report suspicious situations.
- Maintain good contact with your tenants and subtenants. Make sure you have clear contracts and have them legally checked. This will give you better insight into any discrepancies and you will know who you are doing business with.
- Get to know your suppliers well. Know what they have access to within your company and how much they know about your employees. This will help you notice suspicious actions faster.
- Know who works for you, even if you hire staff. Employees can be pressured by criminals, especially if they are financially vulnerable. Knowing your people and their routines will help you recognize deviant behavior more quickly.
- Map vulnerable positions within your company, such as those in data, HR, finance or logistics. These areas are attractive to criminals because of the valuable information and schedules. Make sure your data is secure and know who has access to what information. Discuss this with your employees as well.
- Employees with financial problems are more at risk of being approached by criminals. Criminals use information from social media or personal conversations to gain trust. Be alert to signs and engage in conversation. Offer help, for example by getting debt assistance.
- Harassment is a serious threat by which criminals try to force employees to cooperate. It may also involve threats toward family members. Report harassment immediately. Training is available to help you deal with it. View our offerings for more information.
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Discuss internally the use of company clothing outside the work environment. While it may be attractive to take company clothing home, it increases the risk that criminals will recognize who works at your company and can target them.
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Be careful when hiring new personnel. Check candidates with a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) and consult the Alert Register Logistics Sector. This will help you avoid hiring someone with a criminal past. Need help? View our offerings.
- Do you see unfamiliar people on your premises? Ask yourself why they are there and keep an eye on it. Report it if necessary.
- Do you notice unfamiliar vans on or around your business? Check what they are doing and who they are there for. Record your findings so you can report it later if necessary.
- Do you know a business that is open at unusual times or works behind closed doors? This may be suspicious. Report it if you don’t trust it.
- Dark, secluded places are attractive for illegal activities. Criminals easily stay out of sight there.
- Do you see unknown individuals or your own employees at unexpected times in or around your business? Have a conversation with them to understand what they are doing there.
- Nearby businesses that offer little transparency – for example, by always having closed doors or being unclear about their operations – can also be a cause for concern. Don’t trust it? Then report it.
- Know your customer, so make sure you know who you are doing business with. This applies not only to customers but also to suppliers. Are they really reliable? Check them carefully. There are several ways to get control of this. Contact us; we can help you with this.
- Make sure your temp agency has accommodation, working hours and sickness arrangements in place. This seems obvious, but unfortunately that is not always the case. Check this yourself and report if you see any strange situations.
- Does a business partner want to settle large amounts of contact? This may indicate money laundering or drug money. Please report this above all.
- Do you work with employment agencies? Check that hired workers have their own documents, such as a passport. These must always be available. Do you have questions about this? Contact SNCU.
- Does an employee want to be present during transport loading when it doesn’t make sense? Engage in conversation and ask the reason for this. It may indicate transportation of narcotics.
- If your driver has to top up on the road and is not allowed to be there himself or stands still longer than logical, that is also strange and suspicious. Engage in conversation to hear what is happening on the road.
- Does your employee suddenly show abnormal behavior such as calling often, wanting to work different shifts, asking a lot about scheduling trips. This may indicate contact with a criminal organization. Engage in conversation and be alert.
- Does an employee suddenly have a new car or luxury goods that do not directly match his/her income? If so, have a conversation with this employee. It may indicate criminal income.
- Does an employee have a lot of contact with unfamiliar people in the workplace? Pay attention and engage in conversation. This may indicate unwanted or criminal contacts.
- If you work with migrant workers, check how they are housed. Poor housing may indicate labor exploitation.
- Is an employee in a financially difficult situation? Is there, for example, a wage attachment or payment arrears? These are signals to react alertly to and enter into discussion with the employee on how to assist him or her. Connect e.g. debt assistance. Employees with problematic debts are vulnerable to criminal activity.
Report a suspicious situation immediately!
“Wij zijn ’s nachts gewoon over het hek geklommen en hebben een gevulde brandblusser omgewisseld. Zo heeft de chauffeur alsnog voor ons gereden zonder dat hij het wist.“
Michael
Ex crimineel
“Ze hebben een boormachine in de onderste plaat gedrukt van de bodem van de bloemenkarren en daar bleek het in te zitten.“
Jan
Transporteur