Crime against businesses in London is running at epidemic levels, it is claimed.
A survey suggests that 47 per cent of firms having been the victims of criminal activity during the last 12 months. Compared with other international cities, however, 78 per cent of directors still believe that London is a safe place to run a business. 10 per cent believe it is not with 12 per cent undecided. The finding comes from a monthly online poll of 179 directors run by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In a similar survey 12 months ago the LCCI found that 49 per cent of firms had been victims of crime. The LCCI is renewing its call for crime against businesses to be made a key performance indicator for the Metropolitan Police. Traditional, rather than “white collar”, categories of crime are still most likely to strike firms.
Crime types
Burglary and shoplifting was cited as the type of crime which had most affected their business by 22 per cent of respondents. Another 21 per cent cited anti-social behaviour and vandalism (up four per cent on 2005); 11 per cent hacking or data or identity theft; 15 per cent external fraud; and 11 per cent internal fraud. Some 37 per cent of companies said that they had been victims of crime on more than one but fewer than five occasions in the last year. Four per cent of businesses said that they had had to deal with criminal activity on more than 15 occasions.
Cost
Some 55 per cent of firms said that crime had cost them below £1,000 during the last year. 13 per cent of firms said that crime had cost them more than £1,000 in the last year. 12 per cent said that crime had cost them more than £2,500. 10 per cent said crime had cost them more than £5,000. And 11 per cent said that it had cost them more than £10,000.
What they say
LCCI president Michael Cassidy said: “Smaller businesses find themselves at the front line when it comes to the battle with crime. They tend not to complain. But the reality is, higher priority should be given to this problem in London given the worrying picture emerging from these figures. There is much talk about increased resources for London’s police but you can forgive the average shopkeeper for asking ‘where are they’ when you look at the shocking tale of crime against this sector over recent months.”
