Half Of All Businesses Hit By Crime

A survey by the Small Firms Association (SFA) has found 51% of Irish businesses have been victims of crime at least once in the past year.

The survey claims there has been an extremely low rate of criminal convictions and also reported that 66% of firms have been victims of crime on two or more occasions.

According to the survey the average cost per incident is €2,807, with small business spending billions of Euro on security provision.

SFA Director, Patricia Callan said: "Since our last survey the level of crime perpetrated against small business has increased by 11%. The business community is under constant attack from planned professional criminality. There is an enormous psychological price being paid by business people as crime is now more organised, more professional, more ruthless and more pervasive.

"Violent crime remains a serious threat which 12% of respondents have experienced, one-quarter of them away from the business premises."

Of the 187 companies who responded to the survey, drawn from the manufacturing, services, distribution and retail sectors, 51% said their business had been a crime victim in the past year. While 89% of respondents were of the opinion that crime has increased or remained static. According to the SFA, this may be influenced by the fact that 66% of respondents were victims of crime on at least two or more occasions.

Ms Callan added: "The survey indicates that as crime is becoming more sophisticated, firms are putting more complex security systems in place. While the use of CCTV has decreased, the number of intruder alarm systems has increased to 76% and electronic access control systems have risen to 26%. Firms also use alternative security services such as mobile and static security patrols; guard dogs and key holding services."

(DW/JM)