SMEs hit by crime

08/09/2010

Over the past year, almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been victims of crime, according to a new report.

On average, the cost of crime against the SMEs has been around £2,900, the report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) revealed.

More than a third (39 per cent) of firms do not report crimes against them. This is because nearly half (46 per cent) said they do not think it will achieve anything, while 34 per cent believed the police would not be able to prosecute anyone for it.

"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," said Mike Cherry, policy chairman at the FSB.

"The government needs to step up and engage with this important sector of the community."

More than 213,000 people are members of the FSB, which is a campaigning pressure group that aims to help SME owners and the self-employed.

Posted by Sam Williams