Last Monday started the week of safety. A good time during that week to draw extra attention to safety in the floriculture industry. Everyone wants to work in a pleasant and safe working environment. Nobody wants criminal interference in his or her business. But what can you do yourself?

Last Friday, on the initiative of the Weerbare Sierteeltsector approach and four exporters, a control with dogs took place on the grounds of Royal FloraHolland in Rijnsburg. The check was used as a prevention tool to combat criminal practices. The dogs are trained to detect, for example, narcotics or fireworks. They walk with their handler through the hall, the docks and around the trucks and where they smell something they sit still.

One Flora Group, Van der Slot transport, RVE and Retail Flowers & Plants (part of Floral Trade Group) have chosen together to have their locations in Rijnsburg checked preventively. They did this together with the approach Weerbare Sierteeltsector, police and a professional security company with trained dogs.

Dennis Royers of RVE says, “With the growth of our company, you no longer know all the employees and customers personally. Therefore, we cannot exclude that our transports can be abused. An unannounced check with tracking dogs already makes this much less attractive. In this simple way, we can protect our company and our employees.”

The check is a joint initiative of the police, the approach and the business community. The goal of the Weerbare Sierteeltsector approach is to make entrepreneurs and their employees aware of possible suspicious situations. This is only possible if all parties cooperate and recognize and report signals.

The preventive inspection had a good effect on the four companies. Employees are not used to it and therefore surprised by the visit. It is good to explain how these checks support their safety.

Floriculture is of enormous economic value to all of the Netherlands. Flowers and plants fly around the world and travel all over Europe by road. This innovative sector, precisely because of its unique characteristics and qualities, also faces undermining activities. Excellent international logistics, open nature and conditioned transport also make the sector vulnerable to international (drug) crime.

Program Manager Bas van Delden: “When criminals abuse a company, it always leads to insecurity and image damage. As an approach, we have a nice range of workshops, trainings, advice, customized monitoring and so on ready for entrepreneurs and their employees. Be alert and realistic. Don’t think, it’s not going to happen to me. Companies in the floriculture sector are unfortunately interesting for criminal interference. You really don’t want to experience that. So take measures, provide knowledge about undermining and what you can do and work together. And, also really important: report suspicious situations. Your gut feeling is often correct.”

Is your company also interested in having an inspection with dogs? Then contact us.