Crime-fighting measures for the business community, including a grant of up to £1,000 sterling to improve security on their premises, have been launched in Northern Ireland.
The North's Security Minister, Mr Adam Ingram, said it remained a difficult society to police due to the activities of paramilitary groups and a growing "Mafia culture".
"We are in a period of transition and there is still a lot of violence out there, a lot of criminality." The Northern Ireland Office has provided £600,000 funding for the scheme.
The North's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey, said action must be taken to tackle the almost daily reports of hold-ups and robberies.
New initiatives include RUC consultation with the private sector to form a strategy. The setting up of a security grant scheme aims to help small businesses protect themselves by installing drop safes, security alarms and CCTV.