Insurance broker advice as two thirds of small businesses fall
victim of crime
Towergate Risk Solutions today urges
small businesses to consider taking additional measures to protect
their business. This follows a report by the Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB) which revealed that over the past 12 months more
than two-thirds of small businesses have been a victim of crime
costing them up to £3,000,.
More than two-thirds (64%) of small
firms have had a crime against their businesses costing each on
average £2,900 and worryingly, more than a third (39%) of small
firms do not report such crimes - showing that not much has
improved over the past two years.
The report, ‘Localism and tackling
crimes against business', statistically shows some of the reasons
why small firms have not been reporting crime: nearly half (46%)
said they didn't think it would achieve anything, a third (34%)
thought the police would not be able to succeed in prosecution and
a quarter (25%) said they thought the police just would not be
interested.
Mike Cherry, Policy Chairman,
Federation of Small Businesses, said,
"Small businesses are the heart of our local communities,
and a crime against a small firm is not just an attack against that
business but it affects staff and has repercussions on the wider
community. With two-thirds of businesses still a victim of crime,
the Government needs to step up and engage with this important
sector of the community."
Jonathan Walker , Managing Director of
Towergate Risk Solutions said, "Crimes committed against
businesses can have a very high cost and can be the difference
between staying solvent and going out of business. Valuable stock
and equipment are lost, premises are damaged and staff morale can
be affected. So small businesses should focus on protecting their
business assets by considering the following measures:
1. Check if your business is in
a high risk crime area. Most police websites now provide details of
where crime is most prevalent in your area.
2. Alarms help to secure a
building by alerting you, your security company or the police to
the presence of intruders. They can also deter would-be intruders
from attempting to enter the building in the first place. Alarms
must be fitted to standard BS EN 50131-1, using British Standards
scheme document PD 6662.
3. Ensure that mortise locks on
timber perimeter doors are 5 lever mortise deadlocks conforming to
BS3621 and windows are fitted with suitable window locks.
Vulnerable doors or glazing should be protected by bars, grilles or
shutters, where practicable complying with Loss Prevention
Certification Board Standard LPS1175 and of a security rating
appropriate to the perceived theft risk.
4. Closed Circuit Television
(CCTV) uses cameras to provide visual monitoring of your premises
and can provide coverage of the interior and/or external areas.
Systems can be used simply to record events on site and act as a
visual deterrent or can be monitored remotely by a security company
or a member of staff to proactively identify unauthorized access or
activity at the premises.
Media Contacts
Russell O'Connor
Group Communications Manager
Towergate
Mobile: 07760 282586
Email: Russell.o'connor@towergate.co.uk