Member Article

64% of North West SMEs believe business crime is overlooked by police according to FSB

A survey of firms in Greater Manchester & North Cheshire conducted by the Federation of Small Business (FSB) reveals that nearly two thirds believe police overlook crimes against small business.

Asked the question, ‘do you feel business crime is often overlooked by the police?’, 64% said ‘yes’, 16% said ‘no’, while a further 20% indicated ‘unsure’.

The same survey revealed while just over half of small businesses (53%) had not been victims of crime in the last 24 months, 38% had been between one and three times; three per cent between 4-5 times, and five per cent six times or more.

Of those victims, 57% said they always reported the crime to police, 29% said they never did, and 14% cited some but not all incidents were logged with officers.

The member survey also revealed that 57% of survey respondents said the government should invest more on policing during the course of the next parliament, while 30% said spending should remain about the same.

Only 13% thought police budgets should be reduced.

FSB regional chair in Manchester & North Cheshire, Simon Edmondson, said: “The perception of small business owners is the police too often overlook crimes against small firms, and could well explain why some businesses owners are now choosing not to report crimes, as our survey suggests.

“This needs to be addressed.

“The FSB urges all businesses to report crimes – however small or petty.

“Officers can’t tackle a crime problem if they don’t know about it.

“Failing to report a crime only benefits the criminals committing them, who are then free to carry on breaking the law.

“Our members on the whole believe the government must invest more in policing over the course of the next parliament.

“The notion that investment in policing should be cut as part of ongoing austerity is clearly not popular with small business owners, who rely on a safe and stable environment in which to operate.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .