Undermining criminality
Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe. The port is home to a logistics hub where many cargo flows meet. Unfortunately, this makes the port very attractive to criminals.Crime has had a damaging effect on the port and city of Rotterdam and poses a threat to our communities and economy.
The government, businesses in the port and relevant chain partners, including the Port of Rotterdam Authority, have joined forces to tackle (drug) crime. Together they work to intercept and prevent crime and to prosecute the perpetrators. In this way, they are contributing to making the port a safe, healthy and an attractive location for everyone who works, does business and lives in the area surrounding the port.
Partners against drug crime
Together we want to fight the illegal import of drugs. This demands intensive collaboration, focus and determination from all the stakeholders. The government and business community must ensure, to the extent possible, that the port of Rotterdam becomes unattractive to criminal gangs. Each of the parties have been assigned their own tasks and responsibilities in achieving this. A joint plan has been drawn up by the City of Rotterdam, Dutch Customs, the Seaport Police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, FIOD, RIEC, DHMR, Port of Rotterdam Authority and Deltalinqs. We're also working closely with other west European ports and countries from which drugs originate.
Selected partnership projects to which the Port of Rotterdam Authority is contributing:
- Deploying smart technology, including a camera surveillance network, for better monitoring in the port
- Information campaign to raise awareness among port staff about the risks of bribery and undermining criminality
- Sharing information from Customs, Seaport Police, Port of Rotterdam Authority and businesses in order mount the best possible security barriers to criminals
- Strengthening the Port Community System in order to, among other things, combat data fraud and disrupt illegal pick-ups of drugs and containers
Who has what role in tackling undermining criminality?
The port's business community – in partnership with Port of Rotterdam Authority, Deltalinqs and interest groups for shippers, terminals and transporters – is The port's business community – in partnership with Port of Rotterdam Authority, Deltalinqs and interest groups for shippers, terminals and transporters – is working to beef up data security and the security of port sites. The Rotterdam Harbour Master Division (DHMR) is the department of the Port of Rotterdam Authority responsible for safe and efficient transit of shipping through the port of Rotterdam. Security at the port is under the surveillance of the Seaport Police, Dutch Customs and the DHMR 24/7. Monitoring is carried out with the aid of patrol boats, CCTV and radar imaging, but also by inspections of vessels and terminals, and surveillance of companies with a mandatory ISPS requirement.
The Port Authority is responsible for assigning port sites. When doing so, we carefully weigh up the security risks, plus the best risk management strategy for handling those risks. For example, by enforcing measures in a timely manner and investing more in security. Or actions like screening tenants using 'Ken je klant'. We also look at where the best places are for installing cameras in partnership with the police in order to further improve surveillance.
Concerns about criminality in the port of Rotterdam
Drug trafficking and the accompanying criminality undermine and threaten our society. Not only does drug use have a devastating effect on people and the social fabric, the drug trade is increasingly goes hand in hand with intimidation, threats, bribery and violent deaths. The problems caused by drug-related crime have also risen substantially in recent years. It disrupts logistic processes when, among other things, drug 'collectors' trespass terminals, and by the fear that slowly creeps into the port when illegal operators engage in intimidation and bribery. Companies and staff members are afraid that this could happen to them too, because recruiting and threatening port personnel is no longer the exception. Some staff members have decided to find jobs in other sectors because of these dangers. Undermining criminality forms a real and present danger that threatens Rotterdam's good business climate.