Firms feel the crime problem is getting worse, the FSB says

Of those affected, fewer than half bothered to report the offences to police because they did not believe the offenders would be caught.

These are the key findings of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which surveyed 18,000 business people.

In a separate study, the Institute of Directors said crime cost affected businesses �5,000 each year.

The institute's survey found that one in four firms - of all sizes - had been the victim of a crime in the past year.

It also discovered that two-thirds of the affected companies lacked fully comprehensive insurance coverage.

Numerous offences

The FSB report found that crime against a business was twice as likely as crime against a home.

There is a perception amongst business owners that the UK is experiencing a crime epidemic and that no-one cares David Croucher, Federation of Small Businesses

Offences against companies included theft, burglary (breaking in before stealing items), graffiti, vehicle crime and assaults upon staff.

Businesses in the north of England were most likely to suffer from crime, while firms in urban areas were twice as likely to see their staff assaulted.

The FSB found companies in Yorkshire and Humberside had seen the highest level of burglary, graffiti and vehicle crime, while those in the North West were most likely to suffer from theft and general vandalism.

'Growing problem'

Although the FSB report had no previous data with which to compare, the majority of respondents said they believed that the crime situation was getting worse.

This opinion was strongest in the construction, mining and transport sectors, and weakest in manufacturing.

"There is a perception amongst business owners that the UK is experiencing a crime epidemic and that no-one cares," said FSB crime spokesman David Croucher.

"Sentences are lower for commercial burglaries than domestic burglaries, and criminal damage and theft from commercial premises have effectively been de-criminalised."

The FSB has called on the government to do more to tackle crime against businesses.

"Ministers must recognise that crime has a devastating impact on small firms, generating fear in the workplace, alienating customers, and resulting in a negative knock-on effect in the wider community," added Mr Croucher.

Anti-crime priorities

A Home Office spokeswoman said the government takes business crime very seriously.

"The government recognises the cost and disruption that crime causes to businesses, as well as the knock-on effect for customers and the wider community.

"The Home Office set up a Small Business Forum looking at issues faced by small businesses and retailers.

"It is chaired by a Minister and consists of representatives from leading business organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors.

"It is working on three priority areas - police responses to business crime, and developing better crime reduction advice and information for businesses and industrial estates."