Introduction
Every year West Midlands Police deal with businesses that have been affected by crime, from the independent shop owner to the multinational company. Business crime is not a victimless crime; it can have long-term effects on the organisation and its staff.
The British Chamber of Commerce Survey states that the average cost of crime to every business is £8,000 per year.
Security considerations should be an integral part of your business plan and not something done as a reaction after the event. Once a commercial property has been attacked, it is five times more likely to be targeted again. The successful criminal will have identified where the weaknesses are, it is therefore important to upgrade the security at that point. For example, merely replacing a broken window at a point of entry with another similar window is inviting a reoccurrence. You have not tackled the root of the problem.
It is important to remember that fire and personal safety must come before security issues; therefore fire regulations must not be breached. Before deciding on any new security measures, it is paramount that fire regulations are adhered to. Detailed advice is available from your local Fire Safety Centre.
Crimes against businesses are not usually planned – they usually happen when someone spots an opportunity. Look at your business through the eyes of a criminal. How easy would it be for someone to break into your premises or even to walk into an office and take your property? How vulnerable are your employees' vehicles in your car park? What procedures have you employed to stop fraud or theft by your employees? These considerations should be regularly reviewed and, when dealt with, will support the long-term success of your business.
In an ideal world, any security you decide to put into place should cover all the risks posed to your organisation by the location, building and the business you are in. In reality your budget may not stretch that far, and so a good risk assessment is required in the early stages of planning to help the management decide what risks are a priority. By following the advice contained within this pack you can greatly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. The police cannot work alone. We need to work together if we are to reduce business crime.
For further information please contact your local crime reduction officer on 101 .
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