Nearly six out of 10 small businesses are the victims of crime each year according to the Federation of Small Businesses’ report Cracking Business Crime.
Some 58pc of all small firms fall victim to crime each year but crime against small businesses is reported in less than half of cases. A quarter of business owners say that the police ‘would not be able to find the criminals’.
The FSB report, based on responses from more than 18,000 business owners, suggests that firms in the North of England, and those in urban areas are most likely to be hit by crime.
Businesses in Yorkshire and Humberside reported the highest levels of burglary, graffiti and vehicle crime and those in North West England were most likely to fall victim to robbery and vandalism.
Businesses in urban areas were twice as likely as rural businesses to have experienced assault on the owner or staff.
The report criticises the Home Office and police for not giving crime against businesses the priority it deserves.
You can download the full report:
