BCC research published in April 2004 found that crime costs each UK business more than £8,000 per year.  The study found that almost two-thirds of firms had fallen victim to at least one crime during the previous twelve months.  Contrary to popular perception, crime against business is not a ‘victimless’ crime.   It affects not only the employer and employees who depend on the business for their livelihood, but also the consumer in terms of the increased costs that are inevitably passed on as a result of crime. In addition, crime against business can have damaging consequences for local communities and disadvantaged areas in particular, by acting as a barrier to business growth.

Background

• Strong lobbying by the BCC and the Chamber network has succeeded in forcing the issue of crime against business onto the Home Office's agenda.  The Home Office now has a dedicated Business Crime Team and in 2003 the Government appointed ten regional Business Crime Reduction Advisers (BCRA's) to address the issue at a local level.  Chambers of Commerce are working closely with these BCRA's. 
• The Government is beginning to tackle the lack of data relating to crime against business.  At present, most police forces do not bother to collect separate statistics on business crime and, as a consequence, many are unaware as to the extent of the problem in their area.  In order to address this issue, pilot schemes are now underway in South Wales and Greater Manchester to test the separate recording of business crime.  As a result, the police in these areas are being asked to record incidences of business crime separately from other types of crime for the first time.
• Good work is also being done to tackle crime in town centre areas.  The Action Against Business Crime Group (AABC) was set up in 2004 with the aid of Government funding and its primary remit is to is to support and develop business crime partnerships in local areas and to ensure that there are firm links between businesses, crime and disorder reduction partnerships, the police and other relevant local and regional agencies. The BCC sits on the Board of the AABC.

BCC Position

• BCC is encouraged by the above developments that aim to tackle the issue of crime against business.  However, our survey findings (see link below) demonstrate that much more remains to be done.
• The issue of comprehensive police data on business crime is fundamental.  Requiring all police forces to record crime against business as a separate statistic will provide the police with a more accurate picture of the problem in their area and, moreover, force them to properly address the issue.  This is crucial, as many employers remain concerned that the police do not devote sufficient resources towards tackling business crime.
• BCC is pleased to be addressing the issue of crime in town centre areas through the work of the AABC.  However, many of the Chambers' members are based on industrial estates or business parks in out-of-town areas and do not benefit from the same level of partnership working and police presence as those situated in town centres.  More must be done to tackle crime on industrial estates and business parks and, to this end, the BCC's Director General now chairs a Home Office working group tasked with addressing the issue.  The group is comprised of experts from both the public and private sector.

Downloads

• 'Setting Business Free From Crime' - BCC 2004 Crime Survey 

For further information, please contact: -

Gareth Elliott
Policy Adviser
g.elliott@britishchambers.org.uk
Direct Line: 020 7654 5810