21-04-2008
FSB issues call for businesses to report crimes
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
More small to medium-sized enterprises need to report crimes committed against them, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged.
According to the FSB, many firms are reluctant to report crimes because they are afraid of the effect that it may have on their company insurance.
However, according to John Wright, national chairman of the federation, businesses must inform police of such instances if an accurate picture of the situation is to be painted.
"Many businesses will still not report crime because nothing happens," he told the Journal.
"Surveys also show that they don’t report crimes because their insurance premiums will go up."
Mr Wright highlighted examples of a plumber losing their van and equipment, and a shop whose window is repeatedly broken, as examples of how businesses can be driven under by crime.
According to Home Office statistics compiled in a survey between 1999 and 2000, shop thefts constitute the most frequent crime against businesses.