BCC warn of GBP12bn crime threat to SME's

Published on 29 Apr 2008

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that crime is costing British Businesses £12bn a year.

This figure is by 20% since the last survey in 2004. The BCC survey also suggests that 59% of small businesses have been the victim of crime in the last year. Another worrying figure is the 68% of respondants who said they were not confident that the police are dealing with issues that are most important to them. The same number said they would not report minor crimes like damage to property or premesis.

BCC Director General David Frost said,

"Businesses are the lifeblood of communities and crimes against business have a damaging impact on both the economic growth and future prosperity of local areas."

A Home Office spokesman commented,

"This year we expect to widen the range of recorded crimes against business and will conduct another commercial victimisation survey which will include those crimes sometimes not reported to the police."