Small firms in Northern Ireland have experienced the highest levels of business crime in the UK during the last year, according to a survey released yesterday.
The study by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) surveyed almost 19,000 small businesses across the UK and found that over 57 per cent of Northern Irish firms had been victims of crime at least once in the last year. The UK average was 51 per cent.
Only 60 per cent of business owners reported crime to the PSNI.
Business crime covers a wide range of activities including vandalism, employee theft, credit card fraud and extortion.
"These statistics make grim reading and demonstrate clearly that the Northern Ireland business community is experiencing a crime epidemic which is getting steadily worse," Wilfred Mitchell, FSB's policy chairman, said in a statement. He also pointed out that criminal activity could shut businesses down and add financial burdens and stress to small firms.
According to FSB parliamentary officer Glyn Roberts the survey, which is done every two years, ranked Northern Ireland in the top four crime hotspots in 2004 - but now the area had jumped to the number one spot. He also added that paramilitary activity was a major contributor to crime in Northern Ireland. The FSB is urging government officials to take action.
Calling the survey a "wake-up call for the government, the policing board and the PSNI", Mr Mitchell urged them to develop strategies to combat business crime.
The FSB recommended a nine-point plan to address the problem. It suggests a provision to measure business crime in its own category, a tax relief for firms that install security systems and a business crime compensation scheme to help companies.
