Namport is advocating for changes to its founding act to give its security officers equivalent powers, to those of the police, within the port area. Namport was established by an act of Parliament in 1994 to enforce port regulations. But a chief security officer with Namport says the law limits the powers of security personnel, by not allowing them to effect arrests inside the premises of Namport. Festus Shilongo says his officers have no right to arrest perpetrators when they are caught committing crimes within the port. He says crime within the port is minimal as they record about five cases every year, mainly involving theft. Shilongo says this could change if security measures are not in place when Namport becomes the gateway port in Southern Africa. The chief security officer stresses that the budget for customs and immigration should be increased, to ensure that there is an officer at every entry point at the ports. He has urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security to consider these suggestion in Parliament. Shilongo made the suggestion to the committee led by Leevi Katoma, during its visit to the port on Tuesday, to find out some of the challenges in its operations and security. More than 4 000 people enter the port daily.