NEWSROOM
Press Releases
Mexico Business Intelligence Report (June 2003)
Post 9/11 and Iraq War Concerns over Exporting to the U.S?
Your solution is C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnerships Against Terrorism), a U.S. Customs sponsored program to facilitate border crossings of your products to the United States:
-It´s a partnership because it requires the exporter and everyone involved in his supply chain to enhance their security practices.
-Benefits of C-TPAT: expedited processing at U.S. ports of entry, access to FAST lanes and reduced inspection time, and the improved security should also result in a reduction of conventional losses from theft and fraud.
-The initial focus of C-TPAT is on American companies in Mexico, but Mexican companies will shortly also qualify for the program.
-To qualify for C-TPAT submit a comprehensive assessment of the company´s current physical, personnel, procurement and transportation security.
-IPSA International can facilitate this security evaluation and document preparation, and annually update your security plan to ensure it continues to comply with current C-TPAT guidelines.
Crime Trends in Mexico City:
The Good News:
- Reforma Poll, May 2003:
-Is the city working hard to combat crime? Yes 61%, No 34%
-In the past three months has the city police improved? Yes 41%, Same 31%
- In the past three months have you been a victim of a crime? Yes 16%
Comment: This figure has varied from 14-23% since February 2001. Clearly the numerous recent initiatives by the city to address the crime problem are being duly noted by the public. - New Tough Crime Law:
To attack the continuing impunity of criminals, Mexico City approved in May 2003 a new anti-crime law making even minor theft punishable by jail. Comment: This should reduce the "revolving door", in which arrested criminals are often quickly released on bond. - "Big Brother" is Alive and Well:
The 200+ CCTV cameras installed earlier this year in the Centro Historico to among other things, catch corrupt police accepting bribes is working very well. In early April, Secretary of Public Safety, Marcelo Ebrard, announced that 42 policemen and 22 citizens had been caught "in flagrante" and arrested. The policemen were required to post a $10-15,000 peso bond, and the citizens $6-10,000 pesos!! More Good News Coming: - Police sentry boxes will be installed shortly throughout the Centro Historico. These "Centinales" boxes will have a CCTV camera, an intercom and panic button for immediate contact with the police.
- A code of conduct manual is being prepared for distribution to all Mexico City police. Comment: This manual should be helpful not only in clarifying police authority, particularly in the judicious use of force, but also help deter police abuse of authority.
- To facilitate the filing of police reports, the Mexico City Attorney General´s office is now working with a two-page simplified form for use by residents to denounce misdemeanor offenses against them.
The Bad News:
Comments on Security in the State of Mexico Police:
- While we have been reporting over the past year numerous very positive initiatives being undertaken by the police authorities of Mexico City (Federal District), there have been no comparable initiatives in the State of Mexico.
- Remember that many of Mexico City´s residential, commercial and industrial areas are actually located in the suburbs surrounding the Federal District.
- Complicating matters in the State of Mexico, police authority as well as forms for record keeping are dispersed and decentralized among the many municipalities in the state adjacent to the Federal District.
- Accordingly our optimism over the Mexico City security initiatives and their eventual positive impact to deter crime, does NOT apply to the State of Mexico where there appears to be no end in sight to the continuing crime wave.
More Bad News:
Mexico City jails were designed to accommodate up to 16,000 criminals, but as of 31 March 2003, the criminal population in city jails totaled 20,400!!! This overpopulation of the city jails will be exacerbated by the new anti-crime law. The authorities are concerned that overpopulation could exceed 50% by the end of the year.
Ostentation + Predictability = Easy Crime Victim
Recently the Senior PGA held a successful golf tournament in Mexico City. This experience was soured, unfortunately by an avoidable experience. Apparently three of the professional golfers made a habit of dining three consecutive nights at the same prominent Polanco restaurant, all wearing their Rolex watches, one of them diamond studded. You guessed it! - On the third night, armed assailants entered the restaurant, proceeded directly to the table of the three golfers, and forced them to surrender their Rolex watches!!!!
Comment: We have seen in the past criminal gangs specializing in stealing Rolex watches. The predictability of the golfers frequenting the same restaurant made it very easy to tip off the gang to this lucrative opportunity.
Thanks for your attention, and please continue to send us your comments, critiques and experiences to improve and enrich subsequent issues to:
Media Contact
Jillian Bernaiche
(602) 889 - 1626