Crime is an ever-present threat to businesses in the UK and it is highly important that your premises are as secure as possible to reduce the risk of crime. Here at Newgate, we have taken a deep-dive into the latest business crime statistics and compiled this into key insights.
This article will cover the findings on crime by industry, what are the most popular offences that businesses face, the top security measures you can implement and much more!
Key Findings
- An estimated 409,000 (26%) of businesses premises in England and Wales were victims of crime within the past year.
- Theft was the most common crime with 14% of crime being theft related.
- Businesses with 50 or more employees are more at risk of being victimised than those with fewer employees
- A “greater police presence” is was the most requested method of crime prevention by businesses in the last year.
- Just 1% of businesses have gates or barriers installed as a method of entry control
- The latest police data from December 2023 shows a rise in both shoplifting and robbery of business property which is above pre-pandemic levels.
- Half of all businesses who experienced crime in the last year suffered from direct financial loss as a result.
- More than half of all businesses who experienced crime but didn’t report it to the police stated the reason for not reporting as “too trivial” or “inappropriate for the police”.
Crime by Industry
To understand what security measures your business needs to install, you must know what kind of crime you may fall victim to. The UK government reported in the latest commercial victimisation survey that the wholesale and retail industry were the main victims of business crime.
41% of whole and retail businesses faced at least one incident of crime within the last 12 months. Following the wholesale and retail sector, the next most impacted sectors were the transport, accommodation and food sector and the primary utilities sector. 32% of businesses within these two sectors were victims of at least one crime.
Most Common Offences
An estimated 409,000 businesses reported that they had experienced crime within the last year according to the government’s statistics. Theft was the most common type of crime with 14% (57,260) of UK businesses facing theft in some capacity, either from an employee or customer.
Vandalism was next with 8% (32,720) of businesses falling victim, however this was down from 9% for the year before.
Burglary, including attempted burglary was also down by 1% from the data for 2023, however 8% of UK businesses were still affected.
Frequency of Crime
The latest commercial victimisation survey estimated that 45% of businesses experienced a single incident of crime within the last year, this has risen by 3% from the previous year.
Premises that experienced theft at least once had a 75% possibility of being targeted again. Furthermore, 11% of businesses in the UK reported that they were facing crime everyday or multiple times a day with retail stores and wholesalers the worst affected.
Frequency by Crime Type
25% of businesses experienced customer theft on just one occasion, however 11% experienced this on a daily basis and this is the most frequent daily crime.
In 2023, 40% of businesses reported they had been the victim of a robbery however this fell to 36% for the year of 2024. Over 80% of businesses experienced vehicle theft during 2024 and 11% experienced this at least once a month, a 6% rise from the previous year.
Top Security Measures
Deciding to install security measures on or around your business is a step you can take to deter criminals and secure your premises.
81% of businesses reported that they have padlocks and door locks on their premises, although less than 75% said they had a burglar alarm system. 64% of businesses in the UK have security lighting installed and 61% have external CCTV which covers their perimeter, whereas 57% admitted they have internal CCTV.
Additionally, around 11% of businesses stated that they were members of a crime prevention network such as their local Neighbourhood Watch for Business Watch group. Very few businesses had installed robust security measures such as gates, barriers or turnstiles which can immediately bolster your physical security efforts.
Reporting Crime
Usually, if you have been a victim of a crime, you report this to the police so you can receive their support, advice and help. However, only 55% of businesses reported at least one crime to the police, 34% reported every crime and only 21% reported one crime, even if they fell victim to multiple.
45% of businesses didn’t report at least one crime they experienced to the police and this is down to the belief that the incident was too trivial, low value or inappropriate for the police.
13% of businesses owners didn’t report to the police as they believed they wouldn’t be interested, 12% didn’t report as the police never resolved any past issues relating to crime and 9% didn’t report as they believed that the police wouldn’t have been able to help in any way.
Secure Your Premises
If you have learnt anything from the latest crime against business statistics, it is that security measures and access control solutions are vital for all businesses. At Newgate, we produce secure security gates and barriers which can be manufactured to your exact requirements.
If you are worried about your business and want to make the required changes to improve security, please speak to a member of our team who can advise on the best security solution for you on 01636 700172 or email sales@newgate.uk.com
