The Defence Group in Sheffield provides physical security products, an reports an increase in calls from small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). MD, Chris Graham, wants to see more done to help SMEs.
โSMEs are the life blood of this country and are under more pressure than ever due to the recession. Everyone is talking about knife crime etc but we need to tackle crimes against businesses which are often seen as victimless; and yet they can send a company under, especially in this economic climate. Business owners and directors know that they are being targeted by criminals on a daily basis; they need help and action now,โ said Chris Graham.
There is evidence from security providers to the retail sector that High Street businesses are taking steps to combat crimes against them during the credit crunch. They are seeing clients enhancing their existing security, it is claimed. Whereas they may have been satisfied with manned guarding they are now asking for track and trace, CCTV and monitoring services as well; the conclusion being that businesses are seriously concerned about security threats and are taking action.
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary has tried to assuage the public by telling them that, as the recession bites, a rise in crime is not inevitable. Her assertion flies in the face of that held by Richard Garside, Director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King’s College London, who says that: "It has long been known that an economic recession has a knock-on effect in some types of crime. It is not a huge surprise that, at a time of recession and high unemployment, we might be seeing a rise in crime."
According to the Federation of Small Business 20 per cent – or ‘the forgotten fifth’ – of all recorded crime is against businesses. And yet there is currently no accepted national definition of crimes against business and while annual figures on crimes against households and individuals are recorded; there appears to be no similar strategy for businesses.
The Home Office has conducted two Commercial Victimisation Surveys (CVS), which measure crime against businesses โ one in 1994 and the other in 2002.
According to the Home Office Communications Unit the Government is โcurrently undertaking a scoping project to look at the coverage and methodology for a further survey of business crime, which is due to report in the spring (2009) when further decisions about a full scale survey will be made.โ
Offences recorded by the CVS as โbusiness crimesโ are very disparate and include robbery and fraud by a company director.
Chris Graham says searching questions need to be asked about the priority the Government is placing on tackling business crimes: โWe need to know precisely what crimes against businesses are being recorded and what is being done to prevent them at this difficult time? Police Forces across the country are employing different initiative but they need more resources. Businesses simply cannot wait for yet another report that may lead to another report โ they need action right now,โ says Chris Graham.
Commentators and the Home Office figures show that crime is rising in the home and on the street. Criminals are not selective and will leap at any opportunity to strike; someone needs to do likewise to stave off yet another threat to businesses as they strive to keep the economy running.
